Gunnison news-champion., 1918-03-08
ADDING PUBLIC LAND
TO FOREST RESERVES


the action Of the county commissioners
and the opinion Of all organized bodies
and of the people fully in the matter.
In case the people Of the two counties
are quite unanimously in favor Of the
proposition he will introduce and try
TO pass the bill. The letter from Mr..
Potter follows:
United States Department of
Agriculture
Forest Service
Washington
Hon Edw. T. Taylor,
House of Representatives.
Dear Mr.. Taylor:
Your letter of February l6 is re-
ceived and has been given careful con-
sideration- In il you have placed a
requested the addition TO the Gunni-
son and CochetoDa National Forests
of all that part of the public domain
within Gunnison and Saguache Coun-
ties, Colorado, lying east Of the l07th
meridian. This area is roughly esti-
mated at about half a million acres.
The GunniSon River and the Denver
and Rio Grande Railroad run through
the area from the east 10 the west
The railroad has three branches to the
north, and a number of tributary
streams radIate from the north and
south. There are numerous towns
along the railroad and settlements ex-
tending everywhere through the val
leyE.
feel that it would be decidedly un-
wise TO draw the line as described,
even though it does specifically pro-
vide that only the public domain is
affected Such a line would give rise
70 too many misapprehensions, and l
feel that II would be best TO include
within the boundaries. so far as pos
slblc, only vacant public lands. and
that such should be included only
where they are found in reasonably
compact bodies. Small scattered areas
intermingled with settlements should
not. think, be included. Adjoining
owners VIII usually be able to pro-
tcct themselves under the provisions
of the Homestead Law or the stock
raising homestead act.
The country in question is already
pretty well shot to pieces with aliena-
tions. but from our knowledge of the
conutry it appears that there are prob
ably number Of places where small
additions could be made TO the ad-
joining National Forests. On the
whole. these additions, | feel, would
aggregate not to exceed 20 per cent
of the area within the line described
BY the petitioners.
Cnquestlonably you are correct in
your belief that the petitioners are
interested only IN thu protection of the
range and not in the protection of the
timber. While in a few instances tim
Der might be included, upon the whole
the problem is strictly one of range
regulation. and | feel that the lands
N Hn within thu
scope of the National Forest Acts.
However, they adjoin the National
Forests. being, generally speaking, the
more lightly timbered grassy regions
at a lower elevation, and also being in
many instances the spring and fall
range upon which resident stockmen
are dependent for feed for stock car
ried upon their improved ranches thru
the winter months.
The Forest Service would recon-
mend their addition to the adjoining
National Forests and their admins
tration in connection with them only
with the definite understanding ex-
pressed in the law that such additions
are made for the express purpose of
improving. protecting, and admins
terlng the grazing thereon.
actly what areas should be included
embraces a large order. 1t would
first be necessary for US to investi-
gate the status records at the General
Land Office and find what areas are
left in Government ownership, of suf-
ficient size and suitably located for
additions to the Forest. Having thus
identified the location Of probably
suitable lands the specific areas should
be examined in the field for the pur-
pose of determining their character be-
fore actually including them within
the reservation. Since Congress has
never specifically approved the ad-
dition of lands to National Forest
for the purpose of regulating graz
ing. | feel that the expense incident
to an examination of the kind have
described would not be justified under
the terms Of our appropriation.
If. however, additions of this kind
are sanctioned by Congress, which
might be accomplished by a measure
similar to the copy enclosed, the For
est Service would then be very will
ing to undertake the necessary inves-
tigation and do all in its power to
meet in a reasonable way the general
wishes and needs Of your petition
ers.
In accordance with your request, the
copy of the resolution of the Gunnison
County Stock Growers Association
is herewith returned.
Very sincerely yours,