Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1917-10-11
MORE PHONE LINES
ARE TO Be BUILT
U.S.FOREST
OFFICIALS Go OVER GROUND
FROM RED RIVER RANGER STA
TON TO THE HOT SPRINGS.
APPROPRIATION is AWAITED
Ranchers May Profit from Decision to
Increase Means of Communication
in Timber Country. =.

Construction of additional telephone
lines. by the national government in the
Nezperce National forest has been vir-
tually agreed upon by officials, and
only awaits appropriation of funds by
congress, it was learned today in
Grangeville The new telephone lines,
which will be built primarily to put
the Grangeville office of the Nezperce
National forest in closer touch with the
field over which it has charge, also pro-
badly will be available for ranchers,
who now are cut off entirely from
wire communication with the outside
world. However, it is the desire of the
forest service to limit the number of
private parties who may have access to
the lines, so that government business
will not in any way be interrupted by
private conversations.
Line viii Cost $50 Per Mile
Charles X. McHarg, supervisor of the
Nezperce National forest, and in charge
of the Grangeville office, together with
X. b. Adams, telephone engineer, of
Missoula, don't, recently.went over the
route from the Red River ranger station
to Red River Hot Springs, distance of
twelve miles, and agreed upon plan to
| construct a line between these places.
The cost will approximate 500 mile.
Messers MeHarg and Adams went
over the line between Grangeville and
Elk City and determined where repair
work on this line was necessary. A
force will soon be put at work to place
the line in shape before winter. Last
winter, much of the line through the
4 NnrG t,,,t .lnl
by high water, and then came the fire
season, during which time men in the
forest service did not find opportunity
to place the line in repair.
Aid in Increasing Food.
The national forest ranges, as wal
emergency measure, this summer car
ried approximately 100000 more cattle
and 100000 more sheep than in ordinary
years, according to the grazing experts
of the service. Ordinarily the national
forests furnished pasturage for about
100000 cattle and horses and 1900,
600 head of sheep.
The number of livestock permitted
on the forests is limited in order to
prevent damage to timber growth
water supplies,s and the range itself
This year exceptional weather condi
lions combined with the general food
situation to create an unusual emer.
gency, calling for special provisions to
take care of the stock. A severe win
ter and late spring exhausted the hay
supply and forced use of the spring
ranges before they had reached Their
normal state.
Ranges Are Open Early.
IL
livestock industry faced, the national
forest ranges were opened early Al
the same time, the number of stock
permitted for the present season was
raised to the maximum consistent with
safeguarding future productiveness.
While the grazing officials do not
think that the increase could be car,
ried indefinitely without serious dam.
age to the forage, regulated grazing has
brought about steady Improvement of
the range and sope areas will probably
be able to support the large numbers
/ permanently.