Arizona republican., 1908-07-10
VERDE AND I0NT0
 NATIONAL FORESTS
Conditions Will Be Inspected in Sep tembsr by Department Experts and
 Possibly by Local Representatives.

The following letter has been re-
 ceived at the office of the Water Users association under date of June
 29th. 1908, from Clifford Pinehot. for ester of the United States depart
 ment of agriculture:
 The announcement was recently
 made by the secretary of agri- culture that an agreement had been reached with the secretary of the in- terior, in accordance with a request from the latter, for an investigation of the effects of sheep and goat grazing upon watersheds within na- tionaI forests which are important to irrigation. Accordingly, I am glad to tell you that MT. A. F. Potter and MT. D. D. Bronson of the forest ser vice, in cooperation with officials of the reclamation service, will make an examination of the lands within the Verde national forest and the addition to the TOntO national for est. beginning on September 1 and starting from the city of Phoenix on that date The members of your association are cordially invited to meet these gentlemen at that time and place for a conference in re- gard to the scope of the investiga- tion, and to arrange for represen- tatives of the different interests to accompany the representatives of the government if they desire to do so.
 The reclamation service is charged with the erection of the great water storage reservoirs in the west and with their successful management pending such time as title shall pass 4, ha af hn interior has called upon the secre- tary of agriculture to make the nec- essary steps to protect the water sheds of streams which will furnish the water supply for these great reservoirs in the interest of the great est good to the greatest number of people The secretary of agriculture realizes the great importance of the livestock industry to the general wei fare of the west. It is his desire to restrict grazing upon these lands only so far as may be found to be 'nec- essary to protect the irrigation inter ests. the forests, and the range. But as the primary object in the crea- ton of these two national forests was for the purpose of securing fav- orable conditions of water flow (Act of June f, 1S9O, it becomes his duty to impose such restrictions as are necessary. to accomplish this pur- pose.
 investigations of the relation of stock grazing to water supply on other national forests will be carried on jointly by the reclamation ser vice and the forest service when ever complaints are received from the water users of damage from the grazing of livestock. Similar inves- tigations will also be made by the government on it's own initiative whenever such action is necessary for the general welfare. In all of these investigations the one object in view will be to protect the in terest of the majority of the peo- pie, and the greatest care will be taken to cause no unnecessary injury to any minor interest.
 The result of these investigations will be made known as rapidly as possible. If the decision in any case shows that the grazing of sheep and goats or other livestock upon any particular area injures the water sup ply and does more harm than good, there will be no alternative but to carry out the law in the interest of the majority of the people, and for the development and welfare of the country.
 It is understood that Engineer W. A. Parish of the reclamation service will accompany Messrs. Potter and Bronson of the forest service on this trip of inspection anG as indicated in the letter. representatives of local livestock or other affected interests will also be welcome additions. It seems to be the desire of the de- partments that the interests affected shall be fully informed as to con- ditions that there may be no fric- ton as to the statements of facts that are to be remedied.