PIXOX-JUXIPEJt LAND PROBLEM ■ S-lo 



Is it not only possible but probable that the continuity of the lands 

 has been broken to such an extent that administration would be 

 expensive and impracticable ? 



The proposition of growing timber on these semi-arid lands is 

 unpromising at best, but with the good soils in private ownership, 

 leaving only the canyon slopes, rim rocks and other rough parts, the 

 outlook would seem discouraging indeed. 



Would the adoption of Hoffman's plan of management be prac- 

 ticable^ Are his principles sound and in accordance with the opinions 

 of research workers? We must not forget the form and size of the 

 trees to be grown and the enormous waste which results from cutting 

 ties and posts from them. As a rule a fully developed pinon tree will 

 make only one standard gauge tie and only the best of them will do 

 this. The labor involved is a big item. The remainder of the tree is 

 only fit for fuel and there is no demand for this except from the 

 settler, and a farm woodlot would take care of him. 



Juniper makes excellent fence posts, but this is a small ilem in 

 these days of iron and concrete. While the problem may have a 

 local aspect, I doubt if it is of much importance. 



I was very much surprised at the argument for fire protection, for 

 I was ignorant of a real fire menace in this type. The stands are 

 broken up into comparatively small fire units by the many canyons 

 and rim rocks, and conditions on the whole do not seem favorable to 

 the spread of fires. 



Injury from overgrazing is no doubt apparent, but I doubt if it is 

 any worse on the pinon-juniper land that it is in the intervening sage- 

 brush areas. 



I can not agree that grazing is necessarily a forest use and in itself 

 a sound argument for including lands in a X'ational Forest. If we 

 accept the argument presented we must advocate the inclusion of 

 practically all of the public land in the Western States. Would such 

 a move be desirable even if possible? 



In our discussion we should evidently adhere to Service principles 

 and in doing this we should try to look far into the future. If you 

 want to look into the past, you will find that this region once sup- 

 ported an agricultural population and a civilization dating back to the 

 beginning of the Christian era. 



Nature does not, in my opinion, put all lands to their highest use and 

 the fact that lands in their natural state support merchantable timber, 

 pinon-juniper. sagebrush or only grass, is not conclusive evidence that 

 they are chiefly \aluable for that purpose. 



If these pinon-juniper lands are included in the National Forests, it 

 seems to me that we ought to decide beforehand just what we will do 

 with them. 



It is, I presume, clearly understood that I arn not talking a1)out any 

 area in particular, but about the type in general. 



