The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-11-27
RESERVE CROWDED
BEYOND THE LIMIT
Amount of Stock Grazing in
Manti National Forest Will
Be Cut Down.
CHIEF FORESTER's VISIT
Mr. Graves Impressed by the Serious
ness Of the Conditions When at
Manti Last Spring.
Especial to The Herald-RepuOliean)

Especial 20 The Herald Republican,
Washington. Nov 26.-ln conse-
quence OF the conclusive evidence
which has been laid before the secre-
tary OF agriculture Of injury To agri-
cultural and other interests through
too heavy grazing OF certain water
sheds i'm the Manti national forest in
Utah, Secretary Wilson has cut down
the amount OF stock which Will be al
lowed 10 Craze on this forest next year
10 1880 head of cattle and horses and
$4,000 IF sheep. This is reduction
of 5000 in the number of cattle and
horses, ana p 01O in the number of
sheep.
There has been great apprehension
among The farmers and tOwnspeople
who live along the streams fed from
these watersheds lest overgrazing
should seriously jeopardiZe their inter-
cSJs. Reports which have been sub
mitted 10 Secretary Wilson by officers
Of the department show that unre-
stricted grazing before the Manu ma
tioral forest was created had very seri-
Gus results The range was badly
overcrOwded and abused. With the re-
suits that the natural covering of veg
.
was loosened and conditions favorable
10 rapid erosion were created. The
nigh slopes began 10 gully 50 that
when the heavy transforms broke upon
the mountains, the canyons poured
down mud-laden streams upon the
towns and farms Water supplies for
domestic use were contaminated from
the presence of stock in the watershed,
as well as from the soil wash. The
towns of Ephraim, Mount Pleasant.
Huntington, Orangeville. Ferron and
Salina were severe sufferers, while the
city Of Manti, which is located directly
AT the mouth of the canyon and close
20 the base of the hills, suffered dam
age, including depreciation of proper
| ", between 1896 and 1902 estimated
AT from $4,000 10 SIPS goo.
Last spring Chief Forester Graves
visited Ephraim and was impressed
! by the seriousness Of the conditions on
the Manti forest The prohibition of
grazing in the Manti canyon in 1903
/ had apparently contributed to the
great reduction of damage by floods
10 the city of Manu To ascertain
whether By a modification Of the graz
! ing now permitted the same prOtec-
/ ton might be given to Ephraim and
other towns he ordered an inVestiga-
D
ductiOn now made
IL was found that in parts Of the
forest surface conditions are far from
satisfactory, and that some areas have
reached a point at which erosion will
become more and more serious if the
vegetation is not given a chance TO
| return. IL Is now evident to Secretary
[ Wilson that the national forest Off
GERS. in their desire not 10 curtail use
of the range by stockmen any further
than was made. absolutely necessary.
I have been too liberal in their recon-
mendatiOns as 10 the amount Of graz
ing 10 be permitted.
The experience in Manti canyon is
/ believed 10 indicate that the proper
restriction Of grazing will diminish
/ the volume of flood waters. reduce the
annual property loss. and add 10 the
general prosperity OF the country. II
has consequently been decided TO re-
/ strict grazing upon the areas sur
rounding the headWaters of the var
ious stream by setting aside a strip
approximately two miles in width
from which stock win be excluded ex-
cept for limited periods. In order 10
take this step il has been necessary
10 reduce the total number of stock
grazed upon the forest, and while the
reduction viii entail some emba rrass-
ment and Inconvenience TO a number
[ of stock growers. its general result is
expected 10 be of 50 great benefit to
the community as a whole that Secre-
tary Wilson considers no other course
Is open but to make the reduction.