56 FOREST RESERVES IN IDAHO. 



Again my colleague has not informed himself and ignores facts. 

 This proposed addition does not include the town of Newsome. The 

 town of Florence consists of a hotel, stable, and one or tw^o stores. 

 The placers which caused the building of schools, churches, and pub- 

 lic institutions and homes have been worked out, and there are no 

 producing mines or dependent population in and around Florence. 

 I sincerel}^ hope that great quartz properties will be found at the very 

 doors of Florence. This reserve Avill in no manner interfere with 

 the prospecting for these quartz mines, nor for their proper develop- 

 ment if found, nor to the building up of Florence again if great min- 

 ing developments take place. If paying mineral in quartz should be 

 found, timber will be required and should be guarded not only to 

 supply the mines, but on account of its own value to future genera- 

 tions. Nearly all of this proposed addition is capable of producing 

 timber, but there is no area in Idaho which is in greater danger from 

 fire. 



SQUAW CREEK DIVISION OF THE WEISER. 



This proposed reserve contains 285,784 acres and forms the divide 

 between the Weiser and North Payette rivers and is the source of 

 much of their tributary water. About one-half of this total area Js 

 covered with commercial forests. 



While there are large areas of agricultural and timber lands bor- 

 dering the proposed reserve which have been acquired by settlers and 

 lumber companies, in the tract itself there is but little more than 

 1,000 acres of agricultural lands. xVll the surrounding agricultural 

 settlements are dependent upon timber and water from these moun- 

 tains, but it is the serious shortage in the Weiser Valley which de- 

 mands every j^rotection possible not only of the forest, but of the 

 lower and ground vegetation. 



Nearly all of this reserve affords excellent pasture, but it has been 

 overstocked by outside sheep. The protection of stockmen residing 

 near the reserve and of a range peculiarly sensitive to overstocking 

 and which immediately influences the forest growth and the flow of 

 w^ater makes grazing regulation exceedingly important. There is no 

 necessity to prohibit sheep grazing. On the other hand it is the 

 design to protect it. 



The only opposition to the reserve apparently is due to a misunder- 

 standing on the part of the sheep men, who have been led to believe 

 that sheep will be excluded from the reserve. 



Senator Heyburn's objection to this reserve is rather mild. I 

 quote him : 



The Squaw Creek division of the Weiser Reserve has some merit, provided 

 that Garden Valley at the lower end of it is omitted and township 17 north, 

 ranges 1 east and 2 east, and township 18, 1 east, are eliminated, -inasmuch as a 

 line of railroad is now actually constructed to Council and is under contract for 

 an extension over these very lands. 



Although my colleague graciously allows some merit to this reserve, 

 as usual he is totally oblivious as to the facts. Garden Valley is not 

 included within the reserve and there is no intention and never has 

 been to include it. There is no good reason why the three townships 

 which he mentions should be restored, as the right of way of the road 

 only goes through the proposed reserve for 6 miles, and then traverses 

 only one edge of one of these three townships. 



