The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-04-29
WILL MAX E
A | @ N G
TRIP
SUPERVISOR OF POWELL FOREST
RETURNS TO ESCAlANTE.
Many Interesting Features Of Prac-
ticaIly Inaccessible Region
Related.

George H. Barney. supervisor of
the Powell forest. started yester-
day to his headquarters at Esca-
lantc, Utah, after a month in the
Offices Of the Forest Service in
this city. II will require four days
or more for Mr.. Barney to reach ES'
calante, which is 110 miles from
Marysvale, the nearest railroad point
by summer routes. and 40 miles by
way of Panguitch, the route which
must be taken at this time of the
year.
Mr.. Barney has been supervisor of
the Powell forest since Its creation as
the AQuarius In 1905, and he speaks
OF many interesting features OF this
forest and OF the region. The Powell
at present is one of the practically
inaccessible forests, not alone because
Of its distance from railroads. but be-
cause mountain must be crossed. AMI
because there are no streams of driya-
bic size in which the timber can be
floated out. For this latter reason the
stand of billion and a half feet OF
timber, mostly yellow pine. Is practic-
ally untouched In the past, fires have
done great damage, but fire damage
has been light since the establishment
of the forest, AT present 1t carries
IL 900 cattle and $4,000 sheep.
In the interior Of the forest is the
Aquarius plateau, 20 miles square, 12,-
feet above sea level, singularly level
and surrounded by cliffs, So that 1t
holds the water. This characteristic
for holding water gave it its name.
On the top the water is stagnant, but
1t is filtered and fed out around the
base of the plateau in hundreds of
springs of the finest water.
There are indications OF oil in the,
vicinity OF Escalante, and an expert,
who made an examination last sum
mer, believes that there is a subtor-
ranean reservoir. from which the stra-
tum of chalky rock. which inclines
downward. brings the oil by capillary
attraction. Oil drips in places from
the outer edge of this formation and 1t
is detected in some of the streams
An Is inch vein of coal furnishes
fuel in abundance, which sells for 81 90
ton. Wagons can be backed into the
opening OF the mine and filed, and the
owner Is entitled TO put on all the coal
he can haul for ton.
This forest lies on the outer edge
of the Salt Lake basin, and the south
ern part. which Is a part OF the Colo
RADIO watershed. partakes of the Grand
Canyon formation in its beautiful bril-
liant coloring.
Ruins OF the cliff dwellers are found
there, and form an interesting curl
osity to explorers Of chronological turn
of mind. Forest Inspector j. NJ, Feth
erolf spent month last summer in
study OF forest conditions on the Pow
ell forest, and Mrs. Fetherolf, who ac-
him to Escalante, explored
the deserted habitations of the Cliff
dwellers. Digging into the dry sand,
she found a peculiar variety of speck-
led beans, and kernels Of another cere-
al that resembled wheat The latter
was planted and sprouted readily.
The feeling of isolation of the super
visor and his men has been alleviated
by the construction Of telephone line
across the forest from Sallna to Esca-
lante This connects the headquarters
Of the forest. both with the outside
world and with several of the rangers
stations 1t is thus of great service
In expediting the transaction OF busl.
ness of the forest, and as a means OF
help in the emergency of
A fire.