The Delta independent., 1908-01-10

I llou mas almost perfect dIulhuH III
store along this line for 1908.
Some OF the users of range on
both reserves were found to be pay
ing a grazing fee on a less number
OF stock than they actually owned
and grazed. The same were reported
to the supervisor. Those delinquent
in the Battlement Mesa Forest Res
erve Immediately adjusted their dis
crepencies and nearly all delinquents
in the Uncompahgre Forest Reserve
proceeded to do so, and there now ap-
pears every promise of universal COM
pliance with the State law and for
est regulations.
The matter drift fences and
gathering pastures was extensively
considered in the Uncompahgre For
ezt Reserve. Many of the users ap-
piled for pasture permits, received
them and erected convenient pas
lures for themselves. We took up
the matter of drift fence along the
main Uncompahgre Divide from the
head of Tabeguache and Roubideau
to Spruce Mountain. on the west, a
distance of thirteen miles. This to
save the troublesome drift of stock
between the Tabeguache and Roubi-
deau ranges.
The estimated cost of the fence
being about s2500. the Forest Ser
vice submitted the proposition of
erecting this fence. defraying all eN-
penses of the same, il the users of
those ranges would pay not to exceed
12k cents per head on their stock
towards the same. This appearing to
be but minor portion of the eN-
pense of the project, the users will
lingly pledged themselves to do this
and the fence is now being rapidly
pushed to completion. This fence
will greatly facilitate the handling
of cattle and horses in this range,
and we are free to state that our
people never could have carried out
this wonderful project had the en-
tire burden Of Expense Eallen on
them. Many other smaller drift
fences We're agreed upon with the
Forest Supervisors We endeavored
to call the attention of the super
visors to the badly depleted forage
condition of the range in what
is known as the Hawser Flat and
| old A. NJ. Range in No. of the Bat
tlement Mesa Forest Reserve and the
old and Buck Springs Range in the
uncompahgre Forest Reserve. We
We're given every assurance of con-
Aiiutu tHbIlS pn ilt Dstit VI AHt rti
est Service to rest and restore these
ranges to their normal conditions.
There appeared some conflicts be-
tween some of the users of ranges
| in the east portion of District No.
. of the Uncompahgre Forest Re
serve. Sheep herders We're found
grazing sheep on territory not al
| lotted to them in their grazing per-
mits. Upon complaint of some of our
members grazing cattle in this terri
| tory, we took the matter up with the
, Forest Supervisor and the herds were
confined to their allotted territory,
to the satisfaction of all.
We beg to also call your attention
| to the fact we witnessed great harm
and inconvenience done to our stock
men by the existence of the present
open shooting season given ON deer
in our game law. Our cattle were
frightened from the range by
hunters and not only driven into ter
ritory out of reach of the round-ups.
and consequently adding extra cost in
| gathering. but subjected to heavy
shrinkage and damage to owner.
| We found 1t necessary to make an
assessment on all or our members
grazing In the Battlement Mesa For
est Reserve, District No. 3. the same
to defray expenses OF Advisory
Board trip to Collbran. to interview
Forest Supervisor Anderson. Ac-
cordingly we assessed one cent per
head on all stock grazed. and in
structed the secretary to proceed to
collect the same that the treasury
might be reimbursed by the recipi-
ents of the benefits accruing from
the interview.
| Your committee also thought II
! wise to provide n bountiful spread
for the members of the Association
during this Second Annual Conven-