Graham guardian., 1907-06-21
MT. GRAHAM NATIONAL FOREST
Description Of the Valuable Crop of
Young Pines Now Being Prop
agated

Thatcher, Ariz,, May % If not the first
forest reserve set aside in The United States,
Mount Graham in Arizona has the first sue
cessful rangers nursery.
About 5000 feet bove sea level eight miles
from Thatcher in little dell near Camp In
ception and Just below the observatory Mt.
Graham, Il 900 feet high, there are fully 75,OOO
baby trees growing. Under partial shades
made of lath, in little beds, the tiny pines are
peeping out their heads, and many others are
large enough for transplanung. OF these little
trees, 25,0CO are yellow pine and $4,000 of other
varieties.
Seeds are planted in April to best advantage,
but as they were late in getting started last
year, those planted in July are doing well,
When two years old the little pines are set out
in developing beds about one foot apart from
which beds q year later they go to the forest.
Over 900 transplants came from Fort Bay
ard, N. M, and were set out on the northeast
slopes, scattered about in the forest. OF these
not to exceed AZ per cent have failed to set and
do we'll
The Mt Graham national forestry contains
approximately lS600 acres, and is comprised of
country surrounding Mount Graham. This
mountain stands out almost alone in this open
country and is twelve miles wide by fully 20
miles long
On the northeast slope lays the beautiful
Gila valley, on the south at the head of sui
phur springs valley, is the evacuted Fort
Grant, to the southeast about twelve miles
from the base of the mountain is the southern
Pacific railroad, and on the northwest is the
Globe mining district, near which is the Roo Sc
velt dam and reservoir.
There are four government officials in char &c
of the forestry. Mr.. II. A. e. Marshall, from
New York, is the supervisor, while under his
direction are deputy forest ranger and two
assistants, George II. Birdno, formerly from
Logan, Utah, with his wife, Ella Clutf Birdno
and family, is located at Camp Inception, as
deputy forest ranger, and has general charge
of the field work and the nursery. Mr.. George
Birdno, whose home has been in the ella val
ley for % years, has been in this service for
over year now and has worked his Way up to
the responsible position he now occupies.
Over lO,GO0 feet above sea level and 1000 feet
above the valley, Mt Graham is one of the most
beautiful mountains in America, covered with
many variues OF timber and all manner of
beautiful vegetation, and whose melting SHOWS
may be seen till midsummer, filling the noun
tain streams with crystal water, and making
Camp Inception an ideal summer resort.
While it is a fact that it gets quite warm in
southern Arizona, this is good for rapid devel-
opment of vegetation, however, and when 1t
becomes oppressively warm in the valley be-
low, on Mount Graham, distant but four hours
ride, the thermometer registers GO Ddegees.
Five saw mills are in operation on the noun
tain. Considerable wild game abounds in the
forests, and there is no occasion for ella vel ey
people to go to California or any other place,
for cool place. as there is no spot on Garth
more perfectly ideal as summer resort than
old Mt Graham.-Andrew Kinball in salt Lake
DeSeret News.