158 Forestry Quarterly 



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. 



The greater part of the summer range in the Western States 

 is in the forests. Under the regulated system the forage is uti- 

 lized fully, without injury to the tree growth and with adequate 

 safeguards against watershed damage. There were grazed last 

 year under pay permits 1,734,000 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 in- 

 dividuals who have regular permits. During the year ended June 

 30, 1905, there were only 692,000 cattle and horses and 1,514,000 

 sheep and goats on 85,627,472 acres. The number of animals 

 now sustained in proportion to the area of the forests is 50 per 

 cent greater than it was 10 years ago. Since 1905 the number 

 of persons holding grazing privileges has increased nearly 200 

 per cent. This is due in part to the enlarged area of the forests, 

 but can be attributed principally to wider use by settlers and small 

 stockmen. When the regulated system was established the forest 

 ranges, like the open public lands today, rapidly were being im- 

 paired. The productivity of the land for forage in most places 

 has been restored and everywhere is increasing; the industry has 

 been made more stable; stocks comes from the forests in better 

 condition ; range wars have stopped ; ranch property has increased 

 in value ; and a larger area has been made available through range 

 improvements. It is probable that 100,000,000 pounds of beef 

 and mutton are sold each year from herds and flocks occupying 

 the ranges. That the forests have promoted the development of 

 the stock industry is indicated. 



In another part of the report the Secretary refers to the graz- 

 ing on public lands outside the National Forests, "of which there 

 are about 280,000,000 acres, are not supporting the number of 

 meat-producing animals they should. In the absence of any con- 

 trol by the Government these lands have been overgrazed. That 

 they can be restored to their former usefulness is proved by what 

 has been accomplished on the national forests and in Texas, On 

 the forests under regulated grazing the number of stock has been 



