Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-12-20
LINCOLN RESERVE
STRIKING EXAMPLE
Says Forest Assist
ant Phillips ellis
of Benefits.
an nnlInITInlin nIInliIlI
ALL CONDITIONS SHOWN
Where Harm or Good Might
Result---How People are
Given Protection.

Forest Assistant Frank J. Phillips,
who is now Ell route to his headquar-
ters in Washington, after considerable
time spent on the forest reserves Of
New Mexico, passed through Santa Fe
recently, having just returned from a
thorough inspection of the Lincoln Re.
serve. He talked interesting of what
he saw to New Mexican reporter.
The following facts which were given
by the forest assistant are of general.
interest to the people of the Sunshine
Territory
100000 Acres in Lincoln Reserve.
"rhe Lincoln Forest Reserve com.
prises roughly 100000 acres of land
located in Lincoln and Otero counties.
1t Is under the management of Su-
pervisor John Kerr, who has had con.
siderable experience in the livestock
industry as well as six years valuable
experience as a forest ranger. He Is
a man of sound Judgment and particu.
larly fitted for the position he has
filled with such general satisfaction 10
the people directly affected by the es-
tablishment of this reserve.
"The value of forest reserves and of
government control of forest lands is
especially apparent in localities where
the forests are scarcely sufficient for
the local demand or where there have
been forest supplies which have been
exhausted. The entire Lincoln Re.
serve is forciful example Of the val
lie of the intensive utilization and con-
seryation of all forest reserve pro
ducts and the need of government con-
troll in assuring each owner just
treatment An INSCRIPTIONS individ-
ual could readily work harm in recur
ing control of either woodland or
grazing areas We're there no reserve
"The reserve is one of the most
thickly populated of any in the
United States. The people upon and
Immediately surrounding the reserve
are for the most part small livestock
owners and belong to the best class of
citizens in this Territory.
Men With Means Might Do Injustice.
TT is natural that in such locality
a man with considerable means might
readily work injury upon the people
by over-grazing the ranges or secur-
ing control of the wood supply in case
there were no preventive regulations
At it is, however, the lands are effect
ually controlled and each owner is not
only given definite supply of fuel
and range but is protected from the
encroachment of others.
"The reserve is mountainous and be.
longs to the class of lands which are
in great need of protection because of
their relations to the water supply
This is important not only to the nu
merous ranchers on the lands adjoin-
ing the streams but is also of great
importance to homesteaders practcing
dry farming since forests have a large
influence in sub-irrigation.
Hondo irrigation Project Affected.
The Hondo Reservoir project Is d-
rectly affected by the treatment of
these reserve lands and it is abso
lutely essential that a ground cover
of trees, shrubs and grasses be main.
tanned upon all the mountain slopes
Altogether the reserve is a strik-
ing combination of natural resources
which are of direct Importance to set
tiers and 1t is being managed with the
idea of maintaining permanent sup
ply as well as improving the present
supply of water wherever possible 1t
is gratifying to see that Supervisor
Kerr's efforts are being appreciated
and that the reserve has steadily
grown in the favor of the land
owners"