The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-08-31
SECRETARY HAS
MANY VISITORS
Utah Sheepmen Are Received
by Secretary of Agriculture
at Ogden.
Especial to The HeraId-Rspublican.)

tSpecl3i 70 The Herald puDllCanJ
Ogden, Aug SO.-James Wilson, secre-
taTy of the department Of agriculture, re
ceived delegation of sheepmen from SAT-
Lake this morning and had an extended
conference with them relative TO the live
stock interests Of the west In the party
v ere E II. Callster, C. B. Stewart, Al
bert Smith, George Austin, Thomas Aus
tin and David Smith. They were cordial
" received by the secretary, who seemed
eager to learn all the details relative to
the wool growers interests in the west
The Salt Lake men were satisfied at the
conclusion Of the interview that the trip
of the venerable secretary of the depart
ment Of agriculture would result bene-
fcially to the sheepmen Of the west
Secretary Wilson talked to the Utah
sheepmen of the possibilities Of the Rus
sian thistle. The secretary said that in
his trip across the Red Desert he noticed
that the Russian thistle was in many
places the only sign of vegetation. He
remarked that an analysis of the thistle
showed that it IS nutritious for stock and
that there is as much nutriment and
nourishment in a ton of Russian thistles
as in an equal quantity Of hay.
This suggestion of the secretary OF ag-
riculture opens possibilities for the stock
men Of the west, as this thistle grows
abundantly where other vegetation Is
lacking. The Russian thistle was looked
upon for years as the enemy of the farm
er and stock raiser, as it was believed
to be poisonous and in addition to that
it grows so rank that the western farm
eT has maintained a continual warfare
against it. Secretary Wilson'S idea is that
the thistle be encouraged, as it is d we'll
known fact that sheep and cattle eat it
readily.
Grazing Conditions.
Members of the party spoke to the sec
rotary relative to the grazing conditions
on the forest reserves OF Utah and asked
that the right OF parties grazing on the
reserve lands be protected, whether they
were doing business as individuals or as
local corporations. They explained that
many Of the sheepmen in this country
find it necessary, and have for many
years, to cooperate or form associations
for handling their sheep more systematic
ally, as in many cases, individual bands
Of sheep are small. Many other questions
were brought up and the secretary was
given the thoughts concerning them by
the sheepmen of this state. The matter
of transfer Of grazing rights, where sheeS
are sold by one party to another was
touched upon,
Mr.. Wilson expressed his pleasure at
meeting the she epmen and assured them
that the matters of which they had talked
would be given close and personal atten-
ton by him and that the matter OF CO.
operation among sheep owners on graz
ing lands on reserves would be looked
after with particular care. especially
where the owners Of the sheep were bona
fide settlers of the state wherein their
sheep are gTaZed.
Despite his age, Secretary Wilson was
at desk in the office of the for
estry department I'm the National Bank
building at S o'clock this forenoon hard
at work. His coat was off and his sleeves
rolled up, mis- "A years interfering not in
the least with his capacity for work. He
looked into every detail Of the forestry
office and granted audiences to every
stOckman who called to see him relative
to the privileges Of the public range.
Guest AT Banouet
The secretary was the guest at a ban
quet in his honor at the Weber club and
returned to work Immediately after
o'clock in the afternoon. The evening was
spent in the canyon.
Speaking of his trip through the west,
Secretary Wilson said:
This trip is being made for the pur-
pose of becoming thoroughly acquainted
with the forest and agricultural cOndi-
lions in Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. Idaho
is the initial point, because from that
state complaints nave been made that the
forest reserves encrOach upon agricui-
whether this is true. I want to make
personal observation of the situation.
Then I can pass judgment as to what
is needed.
THE report that I am at variance with
the policy Of Chief Forester Clifford Pin
chot is not true. He and I are in strict
accord regarding the management and
control of the national forests. A spieu-
did work has been done in this branch T
the government and we hope to accom-
piish even greater results that viii re-
dOund to the good of the peOple-the
sheepmen, the cattlemen and the farmers
My trip into this country is not being
made because there is a discord between
PinchOt and myself, but in the very best
interests OF the departments which We
represent"