E 



IMPROVEMENT IN RANGE CONDITIONS 



By A. F. Potter 



Associate Forestor United States Forest Service 



IGHT years have passed since under the jurisdiction of the Forest 



the Forest Service took charge of Service, 

 the National Forests and it 



^ ^- i-U-r. ■(-;^« FORAGE RESOURCES A VALUABLE ASSET 



seems opportune at this time 

 to review what has been accomphshed. The outlook for the stockmen at that 

 Our job in the main is to protect this time was not a very bright one and 

 most valuable public property against naturally many felt that the mainte- 

 destruction by natural agencies and to nance of the National Forests was detri- 

 secure the widest possible utilization of mental to their interests. It was reahzed 

 the forest products under a plan which in the beginning by the Forest Service 

 will preserve the permanent productive- that the forage resources of the National 

 ness of the Forests. In other words, to Forests represented a valuable asset 

 preserve the forests and make them add upon which not only the welfare of the 

 most to the public welfare. Upon our stockmen but that of a large proportion 

 success in this regard depends the per- of the people was dependent, and it 

 manence of the National Forests, be- set about to work out a plan which 

 cause to secure and hold the support of would develop this resource and pro- 

 the people we must manage their mote its use to the fullest extent con- 

 property in a manner which is generally sistent with good forest management, 

 satisfactory to them. The first thing to be done was to 

 When the first National Forests, or open up for use many areas from which 

 Forest Reserves as they were then stock had been excluded and to author- 

 called, were created, it was with the ize grazing upon many areas which had 

 idea only of keeping in government previously been unused. The next was 

 ownership lands having valuable stands to substitute full use of all areas added 

 of timber which should be held to meet to the Forests for the earlier policy of 

 the future needs of the people. No restriction. The result was that during 

 provision was made for even the utili- the first three years, or from 1905 to 

 zation or sale of the mature timber 1907, the area of the average grazing 

 until several years afterwards, and even unit was reduced about one-third, or 

 then little thought was given to use of in other words, the number of stock 

 the other products and resources of the grazed upon the National Forests in 

 forests. While it was known that the proportion to the area of the range in- 

 lands were being used to some extent creased about 50 per cent, 

 for the grazing of livestock, this was 

 looked upon as only a temporary use ^^° effects of overgrazing 



which most likely would have to be dis- Unfortunately, however, many of the 

 continued before any extension of the areas which were added to the National 

 forest or improvement in its condition Forests during this period had previously 

 could be secured. Therefore, the ten- been badly overgrazed, and it was 

 dency was to restrict grazing very evident that a material reduction must 

 closely, particularly the grazing of be made in the number of stock grazed 

 sheep, and either prohibit it entirely or there before damage to the forest could 

 treat it as something which must be stopped, or before it would be possible 

 ultimately be discontinued. This was to secure any improvement in the con- 

 practically the situation at the time the dition of the range. This made it 

 National Forests were transferred to the necessary first of all to ascertain the 

 Department of Agriculture and came extent to which the overcrowded con- 



110 



