Arizona republican., 1908-09-04
FIELD INSPECTION OF SALT WATERSHED
Sheepmen and cattlemen, AecomPan- jed By Officials of the Forestry Ser vice to Look Over Ranges.

A party of forestry service officials, consisting of Albert F. Potter. assist
 ant forester, and D. D. Bronson, in
 spector and Ad. Parrish, engineer of the reclamation service, arrived in
 Mesa Wednesday evening, and spent the night at the Alhambra hotel here, being joined yesterday morning by John Nelson and Clarence Morrow, representatives of the sheepmen's in- terests of this section, and William Cook and Henry Davis, who represent the cattlemen.
 Together the gentlemen, except Mr. Parrish, who will join them later at Roosevelt, left here by private cons veyance for Globe, near which place the inspection tour of the officials will begin, for the purpose of inspecting the condition of the watersheds on the upper Salt, gradually working towards the basins of the Tonto and Verde. on the watersheds of which sheepmen and cattle raisers have been accustomed to use for ranges during certain peri ods. of each year.
 When the U. s. reclamation service first began building storage reservoirs. the intrinsic value of these watersheds was more forcibly realized than had previously been the case. and it was thought at that time that the grazing of animals there was gradually de- nuding them of grass and underbrush. both of which as well as trees serve the purpose of retaining the moisture and rain on the watersheds during the rainy seasons, and thereby preventing in a great measure the gathering of the flood waters in the rivers. Conse- quently the government caused to be set aside national forest reserves. and established a regulation making it un lawful for sheepmen and cattlemen to graze their herds within the bounds of these reservoirs. After this had been done, however. both the growers of sheep and cattle obtained concessions from the U. s. government which per mitted them to graZe their animals on these reserves cOnditionally.
 Through the advice of rangers, who patrol these districts, the government was informed that the granting of such concessions was again proving a men ace to the storage of waters, and inn mediate steps should be taken to have the matter looked into On the strength of this information being conveyed to the department of the interior at Washington. the Wool Growers asso- citation of Arizona, at its meeting in February, appointed delegates to pro- ceed to the National Capitol and pre- sent their side of the question to the head officials of that department The delegates were well received there and were granted an audience at the close of which the representatives were as- sured by the government that no defi- mite steps would be taken in regard to the matter until a thorough investiga- tion had been made by the officials of the department. in conjunction wit6 those interested from the territory. The present inspection trip is. there fore, the outcome of the visit of these delegates to the seat of government.
 At Fish Creek the party was joined by J. J. Fraser and H c. Criswold. prominent cattlemen. At the end of two weeks hence 1t is expected that the members of the inspecting party will reach a point in the vicinity of Four Peaks. at which place c. s. Stew art, who has large interests at that point, will join them. It is thought that about three weeks will be require to complete the tour, as it is now map ped out.
 Mir Potter, assistant of the bureau of forestry, who accompanied the par ty, is well and favorabfy known to
 Nx- Df the firm of LeSueur X Gibbons here. their acquaintances having begun all three were interested In the sheep industry, in and near St. Johns. Apache county, where Mir. Pot ter was located for about seventeen years, having come to that section from California. Upon his arrival here on Wednesday evening last. he lost no time in renewing his friendship with l .he Arizonians, and yesterday morning, in making preparations for his ex- tended inspection trip. he spent some time with Messrs LeSueur & Gibbons l In recOunting incidents and reminis- l ,ences of his early experiences in the 1 territory to which he came when a ! tenderfoot and all the intricacies of | cowboy life were new to him. In re- these many good laughs were 1 enjoyed by the trio. Among MT. Pot 1 CTS purchases made here for his-jour- | ney were a pair of cowboy boots and handkerchiefs. in which he ! said he felt more at home after all
 Mir Potter was sent 70 Washington | about seven years ago in the interest 1 If the Northern Arizona Wool Growers | of which body he was at l that time the treasurer. In present. | ng the sheepmen's side of the ques ion the officials of the interior real 1 zed that he possessed a thorough | of forestry conditions on he different ranges in this section of | he west, and appointment to his pres | ent position was the outcome of this l rip.
 The outcome of this investigation | will be watched for with a great deal l of interest owing to the immensity of | tha cattle and ShaeD interests in the