46 ANinJAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the Forests yearly. Throughout the West timber is taken from 

 them for near-by towns, irrigation projects, hydroelectric power 

 plants, and the like, while thousands of individual settlers obtain it 

 for fuel and farm improvements. On the Alaskan coast the salmon 

 packers, towns, and settlers use 40,000,000 feet a year from the 

 Chugach and Tongass Forests. 



The National Forests also meet the demands of the general lumber 

 market. More than 300,000,000 feet are cut annually for the nation- 

 wide trade. Since 1908 there have been taken from them 5,000,000,000 

 board feet of wood and timber products. 



Not only is timber amply supplied and are future resources safe- 

 guarded, but the ultimate damage to the West through impairment 

 of its water resources, vitally important for irrigation and other 

 purposes, also is prevented. The damage would have been of a kind 

 to force at a huge cost the undertaking of protective works against 

 erosion, torrent formation, and floods. Other countries have been 

 compelled to do this. At the time the National Forest policy was 

 entered upon the agencies making for destruction were actively at 

 work. A range overgrazed and forest fires which burned unchecked 

 were diminishing the water-storage value of the mountains and 

 accelerating soil destruction and removal. The evils averted and the 

 benefits secured through only a decade of protection and regulated 

 use constitute a gain of great moment. 



Grazing. — Although the National Forests were established primarily 

 to conserve the timber and to protect the watersheds, it has been the 

 consistent aim of the department to develop all other resources. 

 Grazing, mining, agriculture, water power, and recreation all are 

 fostered. One of the most important of these is grazing. The greater 

 part of the summer range in the Western States is in the Forests. 

 Under the regulated system the forage is utilized fully, without in- 

 jury to the tree growth and with adequate safeguards against water- 

 shed damage. There were grazed last j^ear under pay permits 

 1,724,000 cattle and horses and 7,300,000 sheep and goats. Several 

 hundred thousand head of milch and work animals were grazed free 

 of charge, and more than 3,500,000 head of stock crossed the Forests, 

 feeding en route, also free of charge. Not including settlers who 

 have the free privilege or persons who have only crossing permits, 

 there are 31,000 individuals who have regular permits. During the 

 year ended June 30, 1905, there were only 692,000 cattle and horses 



