The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-12-03
FORESTS Utilized
BY UTAH STOCKMEN
Over 0ne-F0urth of Cattle and
Sheep GraZed Under Gov
eminent Permit.
USE OF THE MANTl RANGE
STOCK GROWERS COOPERATING
WITH FORESTRY OFFICIALS.

Reports on the national forest business
for last year show that 4449 cattle and
horse permits, and 12S3 sheep permits
were issued, allowing the grazing of u.s.
O59 head of cattle, 6.793 horses and Sl5 446
sheep in Utah.
Accepting the last yearbook issued by
the department of agriculture as an au-
thOrity, this means that nearly twenty
nine per cent or all the cattle, over five
per cent Of all the horses and mules, and
tWenty-nine per cent of an the sheep
owned IN Utah on January !, 1903, were
provided with range upon the national
forests of this state during the period
mentioned.
In connection with these privileges, 9TH
er special uses Of government land were
allowed where such privileges were essen
Jlal to proper control of the stock, such
as the enclosure Of limited areas OF land
for pastures, the building of cabins, drift
and division fences COrrals, excavation
of stock tanks, and construction of res
erv0irs. Twenty-siX such permits were is
sued during the year. covering ZOO acres
o. land, and three ana One-fOurth miles
of Tight-Of-Way. The total number in
effect is fOrty-eight the area involved
being $3.50 acres. and the rights-Ot-Way
eleven miles. OF these permits thirty-five
were issued on the basis of a nominal
rental for the use of the land, the remain
ing thirteen without charge.
Manti Forest Range.
The use of the range in the NIanu forest
Is more complete and intensive than in
any other national forest in the United
States, and it is typical of the Utah for
ests. Consequently, the experimental
work has been largely confined to this
forest. During the year complete DO
taulCal survey was made, every plant
being collected. classified and analysed to
determine its properties and its values.
Acres containing poisonous plants were
mapped and periods during which they
could be used IN SAFETY were determined.
EXperimentai areas were TeS6eded with
native and introduced plants preliminary
10 beginning work on a large scale, and
considerable valuable data secured. This
work is of equal value TO other sections
of Utah, and its effect viii eventually be
far reaching.
As side issue. the forest officers killed
eight bear. one mountain lion, 33l coyotes
and twenty-five wildcats. This number, |
while not large, means a considerable |
reduction in the amount or STOCK de-
strOyed by such animals, and helps COM /
pensate the stock owner for the fees paid |
by him.
Cooperation of Stock Growers.
At present seven associations of stock /
growers are cooperating with the forest |
service in its administration OF the for
ests as Ii affects their interests, but there |
is room for many more. The forest ser
vice needs the experience and advice of /
the sUOckmen to enable 1t TO secure the /
best results from the government TIM i
Der lands, and II encourages such organ i
any organization whose membership con- /
stitutes a majority of the users OF for
est or district, and this recognition en- /
titles the association to notice or pro- /
posed action and the right to be heard in /
reference to Increases or decreases in the /
number Of stock TO be allowed the fol- |
lowing season, divisions Of the range be /
tween different classes Of stock or its /
owners, or special rules TO meet local /
conditions The recommendations of an /
advisory board representing an assOcia-
ton which has secured recognition, viii |
be accepted and adopted in all cases
where the rights Of uOn-members or OF
other established interests VIII permit OF
such action, subject of course to the reg
uiatlOns prescribed by the secretary of
agriculture This means that a large de /
gree Of local administration follows the
organization Of an association ana as
matter of business the stockmen of this
tuuitv to the fullest extent.
Problem Of Utah Stock Grower.
The chief problem that the Utah stock
grower has had to meet is that of pro
viding summer range for his stock OF
winter range Utah has an abundance, the
large deserts alone being enough TO sup
port the sheep Of the state In a normal
winter. In addition, Utah is thicklv dot /
ted with prosperous farming COmmuni-
ties where quantities of forage produced
are 0ftener in excess Of the demand than
OtaerWlSe, and where IN many cases the
feeding Of live stock affords the only
means of disposal This condition Gre
ated q keen demand for spring and sum
mer ranges, a demand complicated by the
strong competition between the stock /
owner who winter grazed his stock at
points remote from the summer range.
and the owner who winter fed his stock /
upon the products OF his ranch adjacent /
20 the summer grazing lands. The result /
was not hard to forecast. Ranges be =
came poorer and less productive each /
year. stock deteriOrated I'm weight and !
"a md hoo Trfe p fe
was the condition that existed when the 4
national forests We're placed under the /
present system of grazing control The /
forests occupying as they do. the higher /
and more mountainous portions Of the !
state, exert a considerable influence un0n !
the summer range problem. for within 4
their borders a considerable percentage Of |
the summer rauEa Is located
Benefits of Regulation.
Few outside of the interested stock
growers are aware of what has been ac-