MICHIGAN ROADS AND FORESTS 



13 



money on behalf of the state to be used for the 

 purpose nf advancing forestry interests. 



\ii"ther law provided that towns of a valua- 

 tion of $l .-.ij().iiiit> or less appropriating money 

 for defense against forest fires will receive in 

 addition from the state an equal amount up to a 

 limit of $2.10. 



TO RESTRICT GRAZING ON WATER- 

 SHEDS. 



The following is of interest not only in 

 .-bowing the business-like handling of affairs 

 on National Forests, but also the feeling of the 

 west as regards forest influences on water 

 flow: 



In consequence of the conclusive eviden 

 which has been laid before the Secretary or 

 Agriculture of injury to agricultural and other 

 intere-t- through too heavy grazing of certain 

 water-heds in the Manti National Forest, in 

 L'tah. Secretary Wil-on has cut down the 

 amount of -lock which will be allowed to 

 graze on thi- forest next year to Hi. 300 head 

 ml horses, and l.vi.ono head of sheep. 

 'I hi- i- a reduction of :;.ooo in the number of 

 cattle and hor-es. and 27.000 in the number 

 of -heep. 



There has been great apprehension an 

 the farmers and towns-people who live along 

 the -tream- fed from these watershed-, le-t 

 i vergrazing should -eriously jeopardize their 

 interests.. Thi- apprehension was based on 

 the actual experience of the past. Report- 

 which have been ,-ubmitted to Secretary Wil 

 son by officer- of the Department show that 

 tricted grazing before the Manti Nation- 

 was created had very serious results. 

 The range wa- badly overcrowded and abuse;!. 

 with the result that the natural covering of 

 vegetation was largely destroyed, the soil" 'was 

 ied. and conditions favorable to rapid ero- 

 sion were created. The high slsoves began to 

 gully to that when the heavy rainstorms broke 

 upon the mountains the canyons poured down 

 mud-laden streams upon the towns and farms. 



With these floor-streams were carried down 

 heavy boulder-, logs and driftwood. Not only 

 Standing grain washed down and fields 

 ci vered with piles of gravel and other debris. 

 put streets and lawn- were overflowed with 

 water which on its retreat left behind it a 

 thick layer of offensive sediment. Water sup 

 lor domestic use were contaminated from 

 the presence of stock on the water-lied- as 

 well a- from the soil wash. The towns of 

 Ephraim, Mount Plea-ant. Huntingt.;n. Or- 

 angeville, Fern MI. and Salina were severe suf- 

 ferers, while the city of Manti. which is lo- 

 cated directly at the mouth of the canyon and 

 to the base of the hills. suffered damage. 

 including depreciatii n of property, between 

 1896 and 1902, estimated at from $75.000 to 



La.-t -pring Chief Forester Grave- visited 

 b-phraim and wa- impressed by the serious- 

 01 the conditions on the Manti Fore-r 

 I he prohibition of grazing in the Manti Can- 

 yon in 1003 had apparently- contributed to the 

 great reduction of damage by floods to the citv 

 ot .Manti. To ascertain whether by a modifi- 

 cation of the grazing now permitted the same 

 protection might be given to Ephraim and 

 >ther towns he ordered an investigation the 

 outcome oi which i- the reduction now made 

 It was found that in part- of the forest sur- 

 face conditions are far from satisfactory, and 

 -.me areas have reached a point at "which 

 erosion will become more and more serious 

 the vegetation is not given a chance to re- 

 urn. It is now evident to Secretary Wilson 

 that the National Fore-t officers in their de- 

 sire not to curtail u.-e of the range by stock- 

 men any Hirther than was made absolutely 

 necessary, have been too liberal in their rec- 

 ommendations as to the amount of grazin- 

 lo be permitted. 



The experience in Manti Canyon is believed 

 to indicate that the proper restriction of graz- 

 ing will dimmish the volume of floor water- 

 educe the annual property loss, and ad 

 the general prosperty of the country It Ins 

 consequently been decided to restrict grazin" 

 upon the areas surrounding the headwaters ol 



Michigan Forestry Association 



HAS FOR ITS OBJECT 



The modification of our laws which will enable the holding and 

 reforesting of forest lands. 



The protection of forest property against fire and trespass. The 

 disposition and management of our state lands. 



Every citizen should be interested in this work and join the Asso- 

 ciation. Membership fee $1.00 per year, including yearly subscription 

 to Michigan Roads and Forests, the official organ of the Association. 



PROF. HUBERT ROTH, Secretary, 



Ann Arbor, Michigan 



the various streams, by Betting aside ;i strip 

 approximately two mile.- in '.vi<!th from which 

 stock will be excluded except for limited peri- 

 ods. In order to take this step it has been 

 necessary to reduce the total number of 

 grazed upon the forest, and while the reduc- 

 tion will entail some embara--mcnt and in- 

 convenience to a number of stock growers, 

 neral result i.- expected to be cf so great 

 benefit to the community as a whole that Sec- 

 retary Wilson considers no other cour-e i- 

 open but to make the reduction. 



TIMBER WASTE AND FUEL FAMINE. 



A shortage of wood for fuel is an entirely 

 n new condition in Manton. but the residents are 

 j. beginning to reali/e the fact. When it is un- 



r-tood that Manton i- situated in an a 

 lute hardwocd belt and almost a famine in 

 fuel wood is felt as winter is only begun, the 

 iv iif the -ituation will be apparent. I: 

 i- true that there is some wood in the countrv 

 district, but the reads have been .so bad during 

 the past month that farmers could not consis- 

 tently haul it to town. The mills and factories- 

 were drawn upon until the supplv became en- 

 tirely exhausted. The heavy, fall of drifting 

 snow does not warrant the hauling at a rea- 

 sonable price and there are today many fam- 

 ilies in town who are becoming anxious about 

 fuel for present use. as well as through the 

 long winter ni< nth.-. There is n. disputing 

 the fact that the people have been prodigal 

 in wood timber and that much of it has been 

 destroyed by fires: yet. these facts cannot now 

 be altered nor the condition remedied, and all 

 that can be done is to preserve as far as pos- 

 sible to do. the small quantity ..f timber that 

 remains and to foster the second growth tim- 

 ber. 



FOREST RESERVE HOMESTEAD. 



A few week- ago the government gave no- 

 tice that 2.500 acres in fore.-t reserve in Green- 

 wood township. Wexfcrd countv. was then 

 open for homesteading, SO acres |,, the entrv. 

 Soon but three of these 80's were left. 

 Every acres of the land, which hitherto has 

 been considered of no value for agricu'ture. 

 will be under cultivation in a few years. [ t 

 has been found that with proper care these 

 land- can be utilized in the culture of al 

 growers cutting from two to three tons to tre 

 acre, worth upward- of $14 a ton. 



PINE SEEDS AND OTHERS. 



A number < f neople each year ask 

 retarv abmit tree seeds. Jus't now D. Hill of 

 Dundee. III., and also the North Hasten, 

 estry Co., Xew Haven, Connecticut, offer fre-h 

 seeds of white pine, of oak. etc.. at fair prices. 

 So also does Thos. Meehan & Sons. German- 

 town, Pa. 



PUBLICATIONS AND NOTES. 



One of the most useful little booklets is 

 ju>t published by the U. S. Dept. Agriculture, 

 as Farmer-' Bulletin No. 42;:. and entitled 

 "Forest Nurseries for Schools." The entire 

 tract is so simply and c'early stated that it 

 will prove of great help to anyone interested 

 in this subject. 



Circular 94, "Free Publications, Etc., for 

 f Teachers." j s also a most timely circu- 

 lar and should be sent for ny everyone interested 

 in matters of agriculture and forestry. 



In bulletin 83 of the Forest Service. "The 

 Forest Resources of the World." Mr. Lon 

 brings together a large number of statistics 

 and estimates covering practically every im- 

 portant country in the globe. It is- the first 

 effort of this kind in our country and should 

 prove valuable to lumbermen, timberland own- 

 ers and all people interested in public economy 

 and welfare. 



While much is based on unreliable esti- 

 mates, such material applies usually to unim- 

 p. riant or less important districts and it is 

 safe to -ay that in their general lines these 

 estimates are amply accurate fcr all purposes 

 of public concern. 



The results simply confirm the conclusions 

 of men like W. Femow and others who have 

 warned our people fcr years and urged a rea- 

 5( liable use of the forests and better forest 

 protcctii n. Again we see that a really civ- 

 ilized and industrially deve'oped country re- 

 quires an enormous amount of timber, that civili- 

 zation and use of timber go together: that in 

 our northern zones about 30% of all land is 

 required to produce the wood of an active 

 people, and that remote supplies and especial- 

 ly the supplies of the tropics do not enter as 

 an important factor and are not likely to -ave 

 us the pinch which a shortage of timber will 

 mean. Read bulletin 83. 



"The Wood-Using Industries of Maryland" 

 is another volume in a series of studies by 

 the Forest Service in co-operation with st:>te 

 authorities to find cut what is used in the 

 state, where anil by whom wood is used and 

 what becomes of it. and where it is procured 

 ;ird what prices are paid for it by the manu- 

 facturer and thus by the state. A perusal of 

 this bulletin will crnvince anyone of the great 

 value of this sort cf work and publication. 



ACCEPT 280 MILES. 



The state highway ' nartment has com- 

 pleted it- work of road inspection for 11110. 

 - f n ads, ready for the official 

 o. k. : the hiahway officials, will not 



he inspected until spring on account of the 

 -now. Thi- season the department has ac- 

 cepted 280 miles of state award road. 



