Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-26
NEW FOREST RESERVES.
Many Acres Of Watersheds Protected
by Two Executive Orders.

Washington, June 25-President
Roosevelt ty subscribing his autograph
recently to two brief orders submitted
to him by Clifford Pinchot. chief of the
Bureau of Forestry. reserved nearly
three millions Of acres Of timber land
from the ravages Of the lumbermen.
Payette Forest Reserve lust create
is situated in Central Idaho. occupying
portions of Idaho, Boise and Washing
ton counties. and contains about 1.2Sl. :
900 acres. 1t is i'm an elevated forest
mountain region, alwOst devoid of agri-
cultural lands. 1t is a region of heavy
snowfall, and gives rise to many large
streams, those flowing south supplying
The water for immense agricultural dis
trictS. This reserve is designed IL
protect the watersheds of the North
Payette River ana the several tributa
les OF the Salmon.
In no part of tn region is the adlti-
tude great enough to produce IA CLIMATE.
too rigorous for tree growth. Thirty
per cent. OF the reserve lies in tn. zone
where hay farming is successful. where
the land is suitable; bull pine forests
are characteristic of this type: Ga per
cent. has sub-alpine climate, in which
farming cannot be practised, and in
which the forest growth is almost
wholly lodgepoe pine. The alpin. re
gion. whose climate prevents the
growth of merchantable timber. occu-
pies only per cent. of the reserve. and
this is covered with an open stand Of
White bark pine ana balSam.
The North FORK of the Payette River
receives most of it's water from the re-
serve. The reserve watershed has !?
cold late spring. the most favorable
conditions to yield a large summer
How III the sire ans. Practically the
entire stream flow throughout TIE year
results from the melting in the spring
and early summer of the snow accu-
INFLATED in the winter months. The
rains usually do little more than soal;
the surface for n few inches i'm depth
and the water quickly disappears by
evaporation. Therefore. anything which
increases Inc accumulation of snow
delays It's melting in spring. or retarde
the run-oH Of the resulting wafer
serves TO increase the summer suppIy
of water. This the reserve will do
Within the reserve the nature Of the
pasture lands and the climate will al
ways restrict the range to sheep. The
reserve now affords range for about
250,o 900 sheep, and ii i estimated that
1t will be capable of maintaining so OOO
more. Practically all ranchers de-
pending on farm products. cattle and
horses for their livelihood are in favor
of the reserve, believing that by the
control OF sheep grazing under govern
ment regulations tn. character of the.
country VIII be greatly improved. The
most hearty support comes; from those
interested IN irrigation. as this reserve
will be large factor in preserving a
summer now from the Payette River in
connection with tn" proposed Boise
Payette project of the Reclamation
Service. In the management Of tho
reserve the Forest Service will also sell
the mature timber under restrictions
which will insure the perpetuation of
the forest.
The San Juan Forest Reserve Is situ-
ated in Southwestern COlorado and in
cludes the top and spurs CT the CONT
mental Divide from the Needle Noun.
tains to the New Mexico line. Its area
is about 1,463,OOO acres.
In the san Juan mountains altitude
Is the chief actor In determining the
character OF the forest cover. Timber