The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1914-02-14
Drift FENCES ON
FOREST RESERVES

In order to control the movements
of sheep and cattle grazed under per
mits on the national forests. the gov
ernment is constructing what are
known as drift fences which facilitate
the counting and handling of the ami
mails. These fences also help to regu-
late the time when stock may enter
the forests, so that sheep and cattle
can be kept off in the early spring un-
til the young grass and other forage
plants have had chance to get. a
start. In some cases, too. they re-
strict grazing to certain areas and
serve either to protect some grazing
grounds or to secure a complete utili-
zation of the forage on others.
What Is a Drift Fence.
The drift fences are not enclosures
but generally extend for long dis
tances across the country, much like
the "drift fenees,' or snow fences
along railroad rights of way. The
railroad fences, however, take their
name from the fact that they serve
to pile the wind blown snow to the
windward side of the track, so it will
not settle in the cuts and impede
tarffic. The drift fences for stock
keep the animals from going in eer-
tain directions, or "drifting,' to use
use a cattleman expression, or re-
strict them to specified areas for the
winter and to others for the summer
They may also prevent stock from
grazing upon areas where poisonous
plants are found; thus they lessen
the cost of herding and prevent losses.
Examples of the use of drift fences
are furnished in several built on the
Dixie forest of Utah. where stock
gazing is important. Five miles of
drift fences were built by the govern
ment on this forest to protect the wa
ter supply of the city of st. George
from contamination by forest range
cattle This, with other stretches of
substantial wire fence in connection
with rocky lodges, which are equally
good barriers against stock. makes the
southern boundary of one of the divis-
ious of this forest stock proof, except
IT certain established gateways Dur
ing the coming year sixteen miles of
fence is to be built across the north
ern part of this division. This will
distinctly separate the northern range
from that to tn esouth. which is on
an dNtAdSt c'iHt psNhb itti IlSHtt anu
will be used exclusively as summer
range. BY keeping the stock on
the separate areas until the forage
start, both winter and summer range
win be greatly improved and their
carrying capacity increased.
Horses, Cattle and Larkspar.
Another interesting development is
Z
on the Fishlake forest in the same
state. 1t was built to keep cattle on
the north side and horses on the south
where larkspar grows in abundance.
Larkspar is very poisonous to cattle,
but is not eaten at all by horses. Be
fore this fence was built, go cattle
had died in one month. June; after it
was built and the cattle were exclud-
ed from the larkspar areas there was
a further loss of only ;, though July
end August are considered by cattle
men in Utah the worst months for
larkspar poisoning. Forest officers
therefore have estimated that this
fence, which cost $40. saved $4,000
in the first year it was built and
should save $4,000. or five times its
cost, each season. 1t is said. too, that
it increases the carrying capacity of
the grazing district about Is per
cent
Two other fences in the same state.
costing $1,000, will, on conservative
estimate by the cattlemen, save ap-
moximately $4,000 year.
Fences Are Cooperative Projects.
In certain areas where the fences
viii greatly minimize the problems
ef the forest officials IN handling cat
tie within the national forests, the
cost is horne by the government. In
other areas where the benefits to
stcckmen have been shown they are
built in cooperation with the cattle
owners, who pay a large part of the
expense or furnish the abor
Throughout the national forest states
there are cattle and sheep owners as
sociations which represent individuals
who Craze their flocks and herds up
or the national forests. All differences
which arise between the forest officers
and the individual oweners are sub
mitted to the advisory boards of these
associations, and they are therefore
clearing houses for the settlement of
any difficulties which may need ad-
iustment According to the officials of
the service. these associations have
practically eliminated controversies,
and the officers who administer them
are in perfect accord with the policies
of the government One of the evi-
denees of this is shown in the drift
fences which help both sides.
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