STOCK ON RANGES IN NATIONAL FORESTS 211 



result was that the entire watershed draining into the 

 Roosevelt Dam was seriously overgrazed. One of the 

 first studies taken up by the engineers was the question 

 of silt; after a careful survey of the area it was deemed 

 advisable to protect the watershed by creating a Na- 

 tional Forest there, and absolutely to prohibit all sheep 

 and goats grazing upon it. 



It was but natural that the sheepmen should find con- 

 siderable fault with this ruling, but when one considers 

 that the number of sheepmen involved was probably 

 not more than 200 as against fully 50,000 people living 

 under the Roosevelt Dam system, it is easy to see that 

 it was only a question of the greatest good for the 

 greatest number. The Forest Service on publishing 

 this prohibition of sheep gave the sheepmen sufficient 

 notice, so that they had at least two seasons in which 

 to prepare for the change. It is possible that in the 

 future similar areas around other national irrigation 

 works will have to be protected from overgrazing where 

 the question of silt coming down the streams and filling 

 up the reservoirs is a vital one. 



Liberal Policy Followed. In considering the various 

 questions of handling live stock on the National Forests, 

 the men charged with the control of grazing have en- 

 deavored to meet them in a broad and liberal spirit. 

 While full consideration must be given to the questions 

 of reproduction and protection to the forests, it has 

 always been their earnest desire to give the stock inter- 

 ests every possible use of the range. The small stock- 

 man and home-builder is given free grazing for his work 

 and milk stock up to ten head, while the hunter, camper, 

 miner and traveler is allowed to graze his stock without 

 charge wherever his wanderings take him. 



