Arizona republican., 1920-04-07
FRIEND IF WEST
 LEAVES SERVICE
 IN TIE FORESTS

HE tkI OhsEO -
 Stockmen of the west and others
 who have been brought into contact
 with him. will learn with regret'of the resignation of 4. F. Potter who has held the office of associate forester ! for the last 19 years entering [ the request of Clifford Pinchot, forester.
 In a letter to Dwight B. Heard. Mr. Potter said: "Our new secretary of agriculture is . prince among good fellows and there is no friction Of any kind. I simply felt that the main job which l undertook for the government was fin.shed and 1t was best for me | to turn the wheel over to some one else. The valuable aid and support which you and other Arizona stock men have given me is deeply appre ciated and I wish to extend to you all my most hearty good wishes for the 1 future"
 In his letter of resignation to Colonel Graves the forester, Mir. Potter wrote: For some time past l have anticipat ed retiring from the forest service whenever it seemd possible for ms to do so without leaving undone any thing which involved either an official or moral obligation upon me to com plete.
 When I entered the government service III 1JUI aI Jne request or MT Pinchot, l did so with the feeling that there was an opportunity for public service in bringing about better un- derstanding between the stockmen using the public ranges and the de partment officials charged with their administration. as well as in working out a constructive plan of range man agement which would give stability to the livestock industry. and secure the cooperation of the stockmen in bet ter accomplishing the objects for which the national forests were established. The success which has been attained by the men in the forest service with whom it has been my good fortune to be associated in this work is extremely gratifying and q record has been made in which I think we may all take pride. The system of regulated grazing in operation in the national forests has been endorsed almost unanimously by the stocltmen using these ranges and is now well established. A friendly relationship exists between the stock men and the officers of the forest ser vice which insures a successful con tinuance of the constructive work which has been done during the past 15 years.
 T feel, therefore. that the time has now arrived when I should retire from the government service and give my attention to private interests. Accord ingly 1 am rendering my resignation, effective at the expiration of April 15. 1920. with the request that it be ac- cepted."
 Colonel Graves. replying said 'It is with a great deal Of regret that have received your letter of March 3 rendering your resignation from the forest service. Coming just at the time when I felt it was my duty to in form the secretary that I should have to finish my own work in the near future. I cannot urge you to change your mind. I feel, however. that must suggest 10 you the possibility of deferring the date of your retirement in order to give ample time to make such reorganization and rcedjustments in the service as may be necessary to prepare for the field season.
 Your retirement will be very great loss to the public service. The work that you have done in building a system of management of the na- tionai forest ranges is a gigantic achievement. One of the most per pIexing problems connected with the organization and handling of the na- tional forests was connected with the grazing of livestock upon them. Pre- viously millions of head of stock ranged over the western mountains without any regulation whatever. The ranges were overgrazed and. abused. ~>Oi OHlt NdS ticlI lliS capacity constantly deteriorating but dangerous erosion was starting in a multitude of places. which, if not checked. promised disastrous results to the agricultural and other industries dependent upon water. It was your work which built up a regulation of the forest ranges. and substituted orderly use for the chaos which existed before. The sys- tenn now in effect will be monument with which you may well be satisfied and of which your friends will be proud. It rests upon a foundation so secure and substantial that you may have every confidence that it will con- tinue unshaken.
 T know that your leaving the ser vice will not end your work in con- nection with public grazing matters. I hope that you will be so situated that yau can keep in touch with the na- tional forest work and lend your sup port to the public problems that come up in connection with il"
 MT. Heard in replying to the letter of MT. Potter wrote: '"I am delighted to know your favorable opinion of the new secretary and have received simi- lar information from others who have been in touch with him.
 T cannot, however, at this time re- frain from expressing my keen regret that you have left the forest service. It has always been a pleasure to work with you, and you have always stood for constructive, practical work and the stockmen have realized that in you they had a man that understood the practical problems of the range. spoke their language, and from whom they would receive a square deal, and know that I speak for the stockmen generally when I extend their sincere regret that they are no longer to have