The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-10-20
FOSTERING GRASS, NOT TREES.

The Tribune has received from the
Forestry service of the United States
Department OF Agriculture the follow
ing circular, which we give in its en-
tirety precisely us received under the
heading, ''National Ranges Improved, J"
as follows:
The increasing demands for grazing
| pasturage on the National Forests, COM
I binod With the necessity for guarding the
| range against oVerstocking. are forcing
| the Forest Service to seize and improve
| every possible opportunity TO increase the
grazing capacity Of the National Forest
range
\ large number OF National Forests
contain paSturagc that cannot now be
grazed for lack Of water for the stock
within convenient reach. The total range
area hampered by dearth of water is i'm
mense. so that the problem presented IS
OF urgent Importance.
The ranges of the Southwest are par
tIcularly snort OF water, and during the
past summer several reservoirs and stock
tanks were constructed on the Garces
National Forest, Arizona In part of the
Forest Service independently and In part
with the cooperate OF the stockmen.
In this way Il great deal Of very valua ble
range was made available for permanent
use In the future.
In the same region drift fences were
built. and others are contemplated or are
In process OF construction. When finished
these fences viii effect complete control
OF the stock grazing along the interua-
tional boundary line, where this forest is
situated
Similar improvements on large scale
arc being carried out on the Eaibab Ma
tional Forest in northern Arizona, where
II is expected that the capacity OF the
range Will be Increased SO as 10 accom-
modatc several thousand head oc stock
more than at present.
We do not see any reference TO for
ests, TO reforestation, or TO trees in
this circular. As matter of fact, any
reference TO forests would be out of
place in programme such as is set
forth therein; for the raising of grass
aud OF forests on the same tract is
out of the question. We have TO get
rid OF forests and keep rid of them in
order to obtain grass lands and pas.
ture.
But it appears that the pretcnsc OF
forestry ana reforestation is the mask
under which the department proceeds
TO reserve large tracts of land that are
valuable for grazing purposes only, that
never were forests, and that there is
no intention of making forests of. This
is precisely what The Tribune has
brought forward from time to time as
a dishonest pretense of the so.called
Forest Service. 1t is hollow humbuo
TO reserve grazing lands for alleged for.
cstry purposes when there is no inten.
ton TO create any forests there. but !
TO hold the tracts and improve them as |
grass lands and 10 keep out the trees
altogether For the most part the lands |
referred to never had any forests on
them, and never will have. There was
never any propriety in including them
In any forest reserves. and there is
still less propriety in retaining them in
those reserves now that the preteuse of
forestry or reforestation with respect to
them has been officially and openly
and the only use TO which
it is proposed TO pat these lands is for
grazing purposes.
But those lands were useful for graz
ing, and were so used by the people of
this Western country, long before there
was any talk about forestry reserves or
any pretense OF reforestation where for.
ests had never been. The difference is
that IN those former times the ranges
were free 10 everybody, and could be
occupied by all alike, free of cost But
now those ranges are only occupied bv
privilege and by favor, and on the paw
ment OF certain grazing licenses or
taxes. Those who arc in the favor Of
the Forestry Service are well served.
and there is q constant complaint by
the small flock and herd owners that
the large concerns and corporations re.
ceiYe special favors from the Forest