Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-04-27

Forest Service to the protection of
the watersheds of streams used FOR
irrigation, and as fast as was con-
slstent with fair notice to stock
owners reductions i'm the number of
stock have been made wherever they
appeared essential 20 stop damage
from overgrazing The Forest Ser
vice is necessarily the guardian of
the interests of both the irripator
and the sheepman and must be care
III 10 give one as square deal as
II gives the other. neiLher more nor
less keeping the greatest good to
tne greatest number always in plain
sight.
Without doubt. further restric-
tions must be made in certain local
tiles and ! shall be very glad to have
the Forest Service. II agreeable to
you, in cooperation Win the Re-
clamation Service. make a thorough
investigation OF this matter during
the coming snmmer. In this way
we can determine what reduction.
II any, in the number of sheen is
necessary to stop damage to the
watershed of any streams used for
irrigation. I will be guided by the
results of these Investigations in
making the grazing allowances for
next year.
| recognize the primary impor-l
tance of irrigation TO the west. and
the duty of protecting IL fully and
fairly. At the same time I want to
call your attention to the relation
of the sheep industry TO the gem
eral welfare OF the western people
The facts warrant a very careful
consideration OF the questions pre-
sented by you. In the past few
years the policies of the present ma
tional administration have resulted
In an enormous increase in the num-
ber of sheep in the United States. as
well as In almost doubling their per
capita valle and the value of the
wool product. IL would be most
II after thus giving an
industry care and support, II should
be curtailed by restrictive measures
except when such measures are
clearly necessary for the proper pro-
lection OF other and larger agricul-
tural Interests.
The forage upon vast areas of
desert range can be utilized only by
winter pastgrlng OF sheep which are
grazed within the National Fore rs
during the summer. In such cases
nonuse OF the summer range means
loss OF the winter range also. The
market for the products OF agricul-
tural lands I'm many localities ISL
largely dependent upon sheep feed
Ing during the winter. 10 Is there
fore evident that the interests OF
many lrrigators. as well as those OF
almost all western sheep men are
involved I'm this question.
It has been suggested that were
sheep excluded from all National |
Forest ranges their places would be
aiken by the cattle OF nearby set |
ilers. This would be true In some
ocallties. bat there are large areas !
" grazing lands within the Nation |
n Forests that could not be used 20 |
advantage for cattle grazing on ao-
'ount of distances from settlements, |
'oughness OF the country, and the |
Sind OF forage produced. The ex-
'lusion OF sheep from these areas |
would mean the entire loss OF their
orago crop.
The foregoing considerations
hould, | think, be giyeL due
weight In making the investigation
II sheep grazing which II is pro-
'osed 20 undertake. Every EFFORT
hould be made 10 utilize the forage
rop. the loss OF which would be
oss 10 the whole West. But rec
gnize that the water supply as well
q the forage crop must be used
nd above all conserved and pro-
ected that no single industry can
roporly be allowed TO dominate the
ituation. and that the use OF the
'ational Forest ranges must be
ubject to the restrictions necessary
or the proper care OF the Forests
nd the protection OF the watersheds
( streams. | have the honor TO be,
r. very respectfully. your obedient
aryant, JAMES WILSON.