Arizona republican., 1908-09-02
CONFERENCE WITH
ASSISTANT FORESTER
Meeting of Government Officials ana
Representatives of Private interests
Held Here Yesterday.

A conference fraught with future re-
suits of great Importance to nearly all
interests in Arizona either directly OF
indirectly, was held yesterday morning
between Albert F. Potter OF the for
estre service and representatives OF
the reclamation service, the Salt River
Valley Water Users association ana
the Wool Growers association and the
Cattle Growers association OF the ter
ritory. Announcement of it has been
made from time to time and finally in
Yesterday mornings Republican.
though Mr.. Porter arrived on the
morning train alone, not being accom-
panied by Mr.. Bronson another repre-
sentative of the forestry service,
who was expected.
At 1920 O'Clock there had assembled
in the rooms over the postoffice per-
haps sixty gentlemen representing the
various interests B. A. Fowler called
the meeting to order and read long
letter from Clifford PinchOt, chief for
ester, TO the Water Users association,
notifying it of the coming of Messrs.
Potter and Bronson and requesting
the proposed conferences. Similar let
tiers had been received by all the as
sociations concerned which fact was
noted. Mr.. Fowler spoke for a few
minutes then introduced Mr.. Potter.
Mr. Potter read number of letters
from the secretary of the interior and
the secretary of agriculture outlining
the policy of the government and en-
phasizing the fact that the protection
of the watersheds and the conservation
of the water supply is the fundamental
work Of the reclamation and forestry
services and consequently the chief
concern of this commission. The pres
ent hearing he said was caused by the
sOlcitude Of the cattle and sheep in
terests and to investigate the condi-
lions with a view TO meeting the wish
es of those interests where practicable
and harmonizing differences where in
terests seemed to conflict. After speak
ing at length he called upon all present
who cared to do so to present any
pertinent suggestion he might have in
mind.
f. S. Gosney. president of the Wool
Growers association and w. w. Cook
of the Cattle Growers association and
Judge Kibbey for the Water Users as
behalf of those they represented II had
been made known to all that after
this conference Mr. Potter. with Engi-
neer Parish Of the reclamation service
and Messrs. Cook. Gibson, Clarence
| Morrow, John Nelson. Louis Yeager,
]. Newman and perhaps others would
make a personal visit to the forests of
the Salt River water shed and then
return to Phoenix Mr.. Fowler sug-
| gested that a commission be appointed
| consisting of Messrs Potter. Bronson,
/ Parish and two representatives of each
of the associations concerned, to con-
| fer after the return of the field party
and formulate their findings for the
benefit of all.
| No action was taken at that time
and the meeting adjourned until 3 p.
m. when the field party held a two
| hours session to map out its plans and
! itinerary. Ii is understood the party
| Will go from here to the Superstition
mountains first and then work north
via Roosevelt, through the S unflower
| section to the northern side of the wa
| tershed.
At 1890 the board of governors held
its regular monthly meeting and Sc
lected Messrs. John P. Orme and F. H
Parker as representatives of the asso-
citation to confer with the field party,
in accordance with Mr.. Fowler's sug-
gestion. II is expected the field tour
will be finished about September %.
| There was no other business befo:<
the board except routine matters.
Mr.. Potter who is the assistant for
ester in charge of the branch of graz
ing, has been connected with the ser
vice 70 rseven years and previous to
this was an Arizonian for seventeen
years engaged in both the cattle and
sheep business, and is therefore fari1il-
lar with range conditions. Speaking in
a brief resume of the meeting to a re-
porter yesterday Mr. Potter said:
| The original forest reserve included
only the watershed of Tonic and Cher
ry Creek, covering the principal part
which was not already in the national
reserve and the Indian reservations.
Later large addition was made to the
Tonic. covering all that portion of the
| watershed of the Roosevelt reservoir
not included in the first proclamation.
| and also the slope of the east side of
the Verde river, and at the same time
| verde national forest reserve was
created covering the watershed on the
west side of the Verde and a portion
OF the watershed of the Aqua Fria.
This was done to protect the water
| supply, for in the administration of the
forestry service, that object must be
given first consideration. On the other
hand it is not the policy of the for
estry service to interfere with the
grazing of live stock, unless shown
that injury has been done by overgraz-
ing. The forage crop upon the national
forest reserves is one of the important
resources of the country and should be
utlllzed as fully as possible. The in
vestlgation Is therefore to determine
whether any portion has been injured
by the grazing of either sheep or cat