The Delta independent., 1910-01-28

The meeting of our advisory board
with the supervisor of the Uncompah-
gpe Forest Reserve took place March
BIRD, in the City of Delta. Regarding
matters pertaining to grazing rights,
increases and decreases in this reserve,
there arose. as usual, in new National
Forests, some perplexing questions. 1t
seemed hard for the users to arrange
just, equitable and convenient division
of the range, portions being over
stocked, and portions being short of
allotments. Increases were applied
for in unstocked portions of the range,
and the same was recommended by our
advisory board; also the removal of
some stock from the over-stocked por-
tions of the range to the unstocked por-
tions was recommended. All differences
between users was agreeably adjusted.
The desired number to be grazed and
suitable places to Craze them were
agreed upon and taken up with the
forest supervisor. We report that the
supervisor arbitrarily denied permits to
some of the users to increase their
numbers to Craze in unstocked portions
of the range, and allowed users of
other ranges who had good grazing
rights where located, 10 come in and
ity. The supervisor also granted ex-
cessive permits to parties to Craze in
the already over-stocked portions of the
range, all without advisement with our
board. In view of these. as well as
other arbitrary actions of the supervisor
of the Uncompahgre National Forest,
contrary to the Forestry Regulations.
we are constrained to report his arbi-
trsry actions in handling these impor-
tant questions, and would respectful
recommend that strong resolutions be
passed by the association demanding a
strict compliance with the Forestry
Regulations on the part of the super
visor. During the latter part of the
year we found advisement with the
supervisor of no avail; but having
taken up matters of most Importance
TO the users of the reserve with the
District Forestry Office, We were in
formed by Mr. Nelson, Chief of Graz
ing that our wants and wishes shou
receive due consideration. Among
other matters the question of the cost
and completion of the drift fence on
the Uncompahgre Divide between the
Roubideaux and Tabeguache creeks,
tuly La
finished, on the old trail into Trbaguacl e
Basin. Having explained that it would
cost approximately $3.50 to finish this
fence at that point, Mr.. Nelson stated
that the matter would receive immedi:
ate attention and the necessary funds
be recommended to complete that much
needed improvement. The matter of
.tae extension of this drift fence on
west to the Unaweep Canon was dis
cussed, and we were informed that
should the stock growers find need fer
such an improvement, and would agree
upon the line of the same, the district
office would do every thing possible to
promote the cause.
In this connection we report also,
the need of poison drift fences on the
Escalante and Dominguez ranges; the
same to begin at point on the Esca-
lante due east from the X camp, and
thence running northwest to the head
of the main prong of the Dominguez,
the same requiring about six miles of
fence The Forestry Bureau has made
a tacit agreement that they will con-
tribute one-half of the expense of this
improvement. and inasmuch as tn e
users of the range in that portion of
the reserve, have IN the past suffered
heavy losses by their stock drifting in o
this poisonous district too early in the
spring when the poisonous plants are
in the most malignant stage of growth,
and the stock growers of that particu-
lr part of the range are willing to de-
fray their half of this Improvement,
we would recommend that The Delta
County Live s ,cl Association use its
influence in bringing about the con-
struction of this much needed drift
fence.
In enumerating the number of bulls
supplied by the users of the Uncom-
pAhgre National Forest, we found that
there were sufficient number furnished
on the ranges by all, with one or two
esceptions, to meet the Requirement 8
of the state law. We are pleased to
state that salt was also furnished by
the stock growers IN sufficient quanti-
ties to meet the requirements of the
law, with one or two exceptions.
We found in considering the losses
in some portions of the range in the
winter of l9OS-l909, some users of the