The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-31
WOOL MEN ATTACK FOREST SERVICE:
i. S. OFFICIAL SPEAKS IN DEFENSE,

= lin DET ElNDE
Is trying to accomplish. and a better
knowledge on the part OF the forest Off
% GERS as TO the needs OF the live stock
night TO attend joint meeting OF nine
advisory boards. representing tho ma
tional forests in the state Of Idaho, and
forests. which will be held at Boise, Ida.
on January J.. A year ago similar
peetng held WHICH Was
nine forest supervisors and myself.
Strange as II may seem. the recommen-
dations made by the advisory boards at
the meeting in Idaho last year were ap-
| proved and made effective by the forest
service with hardly a single modlfica-
tion Many very important questions to
Doth the woolgroWers and the forest off,
| GERS are going to come before the meet
Ing TO be held in Boise on January i.
and have no doubt but that they will
be settled satisfactorily to all concerned.
In behalf OF the forest service, ] here
extend an invitation to the woolgrowers
each Of the national forests and appoint
| advisory boards. / wish to assure you
| that the forest service VIII be very glad
indeed to recognize such associations.
The woolgrowers using each forest. and
We solicit your cooperation In bringing
Il
ranges in this state.
Manti Forest Reserve.
In conclusion desire to discuss briefly
a question that I know is OF consider
able interest to many OF ne woogrowers
present at this meeting, This Is the re-
| ductiop In the number Of sheep that is
proposed on the Manti national forest.
The many disastrous floods that have
occurred In the vicinity Of the Manti for
est, and originating on the forest itself,
is. / believe, a matter of common know
| ledge TO the woolgrowers as we'll as
other residents OF this state. Petitions,
cality have repeatedly been sent TO the
| forest service, asking for more adequate
wyatershsd yyans protection; AS result OF these
Sor. mace special trip TO Ephraim.
Utah, last May in order TO meet the peo-
pie and learn their views. not only on
tional forest administration and rcgula-
| lions: AT the meeting held at Ephraim.
which was. attended by Mr.. Graves and
other members OF the service. there were
some 500 people present Many questions
were brought to his attention. including
that OF more adequate watershed protec-
renee Of floods and consequent damage
| 20 roads and bridges. irrigation systems
and The towns adjacent TO the forest. ap-
pealed 10 M GRAVES more strongly than
| any other. The result was that he di-
rected an investigation OF the conditions
| on the forest. with a view. II possible.
power of the forest service 10 remedy the
situation. One Of those who was directed
by Mr.. Graves TO make the investigation
was myself During the months OF May
and June spent twenty-seven days on
I the Manti forest and rode between five
and six hundred miles, covering. / be-
tent on the forest.
Why Grazing Was Restricted.
Il was convinced after my examination
that the floods largely originated on the
| steep slopes between the basins and the
mesa. n recommendation was made that
Il strip approximately two miles I'm
! width. but varying to meet tho eXi-
| gcncies OF the case. be closed TO all graz
| Ing until such a time as the forage
| plants had fully matured and scattered
| oe about August 20. limited amount of
sheep grazing should be allowed To
| make this effective without overstockins
the lower ranges. required, In my esti-
| nation. reduction OF approximately Is
per cent In the total number OF sheep
| 10 be erazed on the forest $1,000
head. Likewise on district 5. which en-
| braces practically the entire west slope
Of the forest and is open to cattle graz
| ing only. n reduction of 10 per cent in
the total number of cattle is believed
| necessary.
Cattle Grazing.
|
as injurious as excessive sheep grazing.
but since the bulk OF the range In the
| two-mile strip is used by sheep, n slight
~ heavier reduction was considered
necessary on the sheep than on the cat
| tie. This view OF the situation con-
| CURED In. both by the forester and the
| secretary Of agriculture. with the result
! that IL per cent reduction in the total
| number Of sheep and n 10 per cent rcduC-
J ton In the total number OF cattle to he
| graZed or the forest has been ordered
| While we realize fully that this VIII re-
suit no doubt in considerable financial
| loss TO the sheep and cattle men directly
| affected still We believe that In the long
run II is going to be TO the best IN
| terest of the majority OF the people. since
| farmers and stockmen alike are equally
| dependent upon the use OF the water and
streams that have their origin on the
| forest. II should be borne in mind chat
| there arc approximately 2I.000 people l!v-
! ing In tho vicinity OF the Manti forest.
! and that the average farm unit In San
| pete valley is less than forty acres. also
that irrigation is essential TO successful
! farming. Since the primary object of
| the creation of the national forests un-
der the law is the preservation OF the
| timber and the conservation OF the water
supply, and the regulation OF the grazing
insofar only as 1t affects tho timber and
water. ii is incumbent upon the forest
| service 10 take such action as may be
necessary 10 meet the requirements OF
the law in this respect
Resolutions Presented.
| Following Mr., Fenns address num-
| ber OF the Sheepmen present engaged In
| a heated discussion concerning the man
| ner In which they claimed the forestry
| officials were attempting To deprive them
! OF their grazing rights. James MoDsen.
president OF the Mani National Forest
| Woolgrowers' association. presented the
| resolution which adopted at the
meeting Of shecpmen held I'm the offices
| OF the Utah Woolgrowers' association In
| the forenoon. After the matter hud been
| HisSISgpI ilOrDIlghlE IL H.
| dorsed the resolutions, The resolutions
| follow;
| 1--WE, farmers and home builders OF
| SanI,.tc and .Iuab counties. users OF the
| ManU national forest, realizing that our
industry is on the verge OF destruction,
make this last dcspairlnS appeal against
the crushing blow about to be dealt us in
the order for IL i7A per cent reduction ot
tlOCks.
''Since the Inauguration OF the Manti
ma tional forest each year has been full OF
changes. new rules and broken pledges.
| 10 be succeeded by harder conditions and
promises never fulfilled.