The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-05-23
NEW RESERVE IS
MADE IN Utah
Design Is to Protect the Water.
sheds in the PaYant
Mountains.
CONTAINS NEARLY
HALF MILLION ACRES
Land Is Not Valuable for Farm.
ing, But Will Protect the
Farmers Below.
Special to Tho Tribune.

Special to Tho Tribune.
WASHINGTON, ID. C, May 22-Anothcr
forest rcservo has just been, established I'm
south central Utah. tho Fillmore reserve.
northern extension of the Beaver forest
reserve, about siXty-scyen miles TO the
north. embracing tho watersheds formed
by the Pavant mountains and the Cam
yon range In Millard. Sevler and Juab
counties
The reserve is from one to eighteen
miles wide and contains approximately
10000 acres.
Washing Is Feared.
owing to the steep slopes. the light
loose character of tho soil. and the large
quantities. Of gravel and boulders de-
Ton was portion OF the bed OF old Lake
bonneville removal of the forest and
ground cover Is sure 10 be followed by
extensive and destructive washing and
guIlying on the slopes and In the bottoms
of the canyons" says the Chief Forester.
Only Good for Grazing.
The tract is valuable only as a water
shed and for stock grazing purposes. and
10 limited extent for the production of
timber for local use. There Is no cult
waited land and there Is probably none
that can be successfully cultivated. ow-
stream beds are generally narrow and
too rocky to be tllable
Inc forest and ground cover on these
In regulating the water flow, Irrepara-
bic damage has resulted in the Payant
range from the destruction of the grasses
and small herbs and shrubs through Sc
we're oVer-grazlng, chiefly by transient
sheep, The protective cover having been
DESTROYED or greatly impaired on these
badly washed
Farm Lands Damaged
I'm many of the canyons of the Pavant
range deep gorgeS have been cut and I'm.
mense volumes of boulders, gravel and
i,ntertiie mud have been poured out upon
the valley below. covering much valuable
farming land and filling bitches and
canals Where the snow formerly lay un-
III July and August, sustaining the stream
low II now melts and runs Off carly In
the spring. forming destructive floods to
be followed by drouths equally Injur-
Gus. In this way the capacity OF the
streams for irrigation has been very
greatly decreased in some cases as much
as 50 per cent. and the population of
and knossh has actually diminished.
Much Land Ruined.
Much valuable agricultural land has
been ruined by deep washes cut by floods
Such damage Is confined almost entirely
TO the Pavant range where over grazing
has been most severe. and has been
In proportion TO the size OF the streams
Tho towns OF Fillmore. Sciplo Oak City
kanosh and Meadow are compelled 10
depend mainly upon water from irrigation
dltches Tor domestic purposes The gen
eral use of water sheds as bedding
ground for sheep especially In the Pavant
range, has resulted in the pollution of the
water supply. and at flood time each
spring the water becomes absolutely UNIT
for use.
Sickness Has Resulted.
Much sickness has resulted from this
condition. especially at Fillmore, ScIplo
Holden and Kanosh The amount of LAND
which can be irrigated from this tract de-
pends altogether upon the amount OF
water available and In its distribution
the seasons. The arabic land.
practically unlimited In extent. is almost
valuelcss without water. though n be
ginning is being made in utilizing II FOR
dry land crops" such as rye and wheat,
Many Towns Dependent.
NO less than six neighboring towns de-
pend altogether upon this reserve for
water for lrrigatinG purposes, while five
more towns partly depend upon Il. Most
of the streams of the canyon range and
those OF the cast side OF the Pavant
range have sufficient water for rrIgat-
Ing purposes only during the brief spring
I'm order TO mature tho various crops.
II is of the utmost importance that the
flow be extended through as long a period
as possible. and that the waste OF water
due TO heavy sudden floods be avoided.
Crop Cut Short,
I'm many cases. while but one crop OF
alfalfa cnn now be raised owing to tho
short period OF flood water. two crops
we're formerly, grown; and could be raised
again II the old conditions OF stream flow
were restored. The forest service will
1t once place the reserve under
'orest force which will take efficient
measures TO prevent further injury TO the
orest cover from fires over grazing or
,ther causes. while seeing to IT, at the
anne time that the timber. herbnge and
Ill other forest resources are utilized to
he best advantage by those dependent
'pon tho reserve for such supplies, Every
Mort Will be made To bring the range
nto permanent good condition. In do
ng so. grazing Will be regulated so
ar as may be found necessary TO pre-
'ent destruction of the range or unfair
competition. Tho aim viii be to allow
Ill the grazing which will not decrease
he next years supply, and to allot 1t on