, 1921-06-02

proposition involving this feature.
Within the past five years. however,
the value of forest grazing prefer
enccs received recognition so that it
was necessary TO call attention to
the fact hat such references might
not be legally transferred for a CON
sideration since they afford no
vested interest in the land which is
the common property of all the
people. Previous to this some hand
some bonuses were paid in sales OF
stock where the grazing preferences
were waived. One prominent stock
man stated that he considered a GER
tain established preference for 5000
sheep worth $4,000. 90.
The constructive grazing control
begun in 1902 is with the %co-opera-
ton of the permittees, being further
developed year by year. Successive
permittees realizing the benefits are
easily converted. Recognizing the
fact that grazing plans. as in the case
OF timber utilization and protection
plans are set askew by fives the
stockmen are ardent co-operators in
the matter of fire patrol and sup
preston. They read directly from
the book of nature and their per
sonal observations, in a large mea
sure, govern their actions. In past
times there were a few who held
that burning out the forest increas-
ed the grazing acreage This theory
has, however. been exploded through
observation that within a few years
! Of the passing of the fire the fallen
timber prevented access by stock for
IA life time. Then, in many cases.
the humus burned to the mineral
soil washed away leaving nothing
on which grass seeds may take root.
The soil is the capital and must be
conserved and protected to keep
credit with nature good. Summer
grazing and winter feed are compile
ments OF each other. Either, with
| out the other. falls in value. Of
what use Is summer grazing with
out the means to carry stock through
the winter? Great. indeed. Is the
effects Of forest fires on the water
supply on which the rancher de-
ponds for the growing OF his winter
forage crop. The SHOWS. on a fire
swept watershed having no protec'
tion from the sun. go out so early ir
the season that water to irrigate the
meadows during the latter part OF
the growing season when we have
the greatest warmth. is deficient and
the production Of hay per acre Is re
duced as well as the limits OF the
hay-producing area. Thus. through
the agency of fire not only the sum
mer grazing but also the necessary
winter feed is affected. The nearest
local example we have is Seven-Milt
Creek. In 1902, Just before The
Rnr0ot .,ao fabian nrnr hu thu E0rnG
Service, a fire getting away from {
camper on the west side OF Rocl
Creek Park travelled eastward ant
famed by a strong west wind
jumped the park and swept across
the divide almost completely burn
ing out the drainage OF Seven-Mil'
tCreek. The late Colonel Bell tool
up a number of men to fight the fire
but it had gained such Roadway tina
little could be done and it burned
unrestrictedly down to the open lane
on the east. The late s. F. Phillips
who was a pioneer ranchman OF
lower Seven-Mile near where 1t emp
ties into Lake James. Is authOrit,
for the statement that prior to tn
fire Seven-Mile ran water the entir
year whereas after the fire 1t drie,
up on the lower half early in tn
season. This it still continues to dc
Although grass followed the fire il
the Seven-Mile burn. more fire-kille'
timber falling each year is prevent
ing the utilization of the feed more
and more and it will be a long time
before the burned area will become
open notwithstanding that the re
moval Of the dead timber is being
stimulated by a liberal free use pol
icy. To help out the establishment
OF reproduction. 26 acres were re-
seeded in 1911 on this area. Another
i result Of the fire is the scdcmenta-
ton of Lake James reservoir. the
soil, robbed by the fire of its pro-
tective cover being washed down
stream into the lake.
The grazing permitte"s are active
helpers in patrol and the Service
thus watches the outward slopes,
under visibility control of the sur
rounding ranches, with a thousand
eyes and there are cases of record
where fires were reported, assistance
marshalled and suppression accom-
plished within the space of a few
hours.