108 MONTANA J9U 



uncontrolled denudation of the forests and to protect them from fire has 

 been taken by all far-sighted nations of the world and this policy is now 

 being worked out under the nation's forest policy in co-operation with the 

 State and private owners. 



Since it has become known that the health of every city depends pri- 

 marily upon the purity of its water supply, the safeguarding of the source 

 of its water has become a vital necessity. It is a choice of either ade- 

 quate watershed protection or the construction of expensive 

 Pure Water filtration plants. Montana has coming out of its forested 

 Is Kept mountain areas a supply of water which is practically pure. 



Pure by The value of safeguarding its purity can not be over estimated 



Protection, in terms of community health and happiness. Co-operative 

 steps are being taken between the various cities and the United 

 States forest service to properly protect these watersheds from pollution. 

 No timber is allowed to be cut except under the strictest sanitary rules 

 governing the location and regidation of camps. The grazing of stock is 

 controlled. Fire protection is assured. Agricultural lands applied for are 

 not open for entry in such water-sheds, since settlement by individuals on 

 such areas would jeopardize the health of whole communities. 



In the fiscal year July i, 1912, to June 30, 1913, 717,091 sheep and goats. 

 137,109 cattle and horses secured forage on the national forests in Montana 

 under a systern of grazing which recognizes the homesteader as against the 

 transient. The definite allotment of grazing ranges to those 

 Sensible who have established a preference through their use has re- 



Manage- suited in preventing the tramping out of the grass, damage to 

 ment of stock, killing of young timber and erosion of the soil itself, and 



Grazing in increasing the carrying capacity of the range in many in- 



Rights. stances as much as 5%. The old system of range use under 



tacit agreements without effective control gave rise, and has 

 given rise since the world began, to constant controversies which can only 

 be settled on the basis that might makes right. These differences are elim- 

 inated under a system of range management. 



The soft, succulent weeds growing usually at the high elevations are 

 allotted to sheep for it is these areas which produce the heaviest and tend- 

 erest of lambs; the lower bunch grass ranges, together with the open moun- 

 tain parks, are reserved for cattle. By the construction of drift 

 Many thou- community stock associations who take an active part in range 

 sands of management, the studying of the poisonous plants, classifica- 

 Sheep tion of the range into types such as meadow, bunch grass, weed 



Range the sage brush, etc; killing off predatory animals, full ultiliza- 

 Hills. tion and protection of this valuable resource is assured. The 



fences, reservoirs or troughs for watering, the organization of 

 grazing areas within the national forests are usually the parks above timber 

 line or small scattered tracts of land so intimately associated with forested 



— Montana! The land of assured success and human happiness. 



