386 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



A u if ust 



advance in importance. Although the 

 protection of the source of water sup- 

 ply is not to be disregarded, the na- 

 tural conditions are more favorable 

 and the extreme vigilance necessary in 

 the southern reserves can here be re- 

 laxed somewhat. Consequently, the 

 mature timber can be more freely dis- 

 posed of to the mining and other in- 

 terests needing it, and the forage crop 

 can be more closely harvested without 

 danger to the reserves. Liberal al- 

 lowance is made for grazing cattle and 

 horses, and on the eastern slope of the 

 Stanislaus Reserve, sheep grazing is 

 allowed. The question of allowing 

 sheep grazing on certain portions of 

 the Sierra reserve, which are reported 

 as best adapted for use by that class of 

 stock, will be investigated during the 

 year and all interests carefully con- 

 sidered before final action is taken. 

 Trails have been established through 

 both the Sierra and Stanislaus Re- 

 serves for driving bands of sheep 

 across in moving between summer and 

 winter pastures. Every effort will be 

 made to encourage the stockman in a 

 proper use of the forage and special 

 inducements will be offered to those 

 who willingly cooperate with the gov- 

 ernment in the protection and im- 

 provement of the reserves. 



One of the greatest needs for the fu- 

 ture development of the mining in- 

 terests of the state, is cheaper power. 

 This can best be secured by use of the 

 water power furnished by the moun- 

 tain streams in generating electrical 

 power. The regular flow of water 

 necessary for the success of this en- 

 terprise is best insured by preservation 

 of the forest conditions on the head 

 waters of the streams. The success of 

 mining also depends largely upon the 

 forest, because the miner must have 

 an ample supply of timber for use in 

 working his mine, he therefore has a 

 vital interest in the preservation of the 

 forest, and should be one of the 

 strongest supporters of the reserves. 

 In the future management of the re- 

 serves an effort will be made to meet 

 the local needs and make improve- 



ments in the methods of transacting 

 business, which should result in great 

 benefit to the mining industry. 



Since January I, 1905, six new for- 

 est reserves have been created in the 

 northern part of the state, as follows : 

 The Modoc, Warner Mountains, 

 Plumas, Trinity, Klamath, and Lessen 

 Peak. These reserves were all ex- 

 amined carefully prior to their crea- 

 tion and the boundaries have been 

 drawn so as to include only lands 

 suited to forest reserve purposes. 



In the Modoc and Warner Moun- 

 tains Reserves, located in the extreme 

 northeastern corner of the state, the 

 principal object in their creation was 

 the protection of the water supply 

 needed to insure the continued pros- 

 perity of the adjoining settlements. 

 Stock-raising is one of the most im- 

 portant industries in this section and 

 liberal allowances have been made for 

 grazing cattle, horses, and sheep. It 

 will be the policy to allow a full utili- 

 zation of the forage products of these 

 reserves and to gradually adjust the 

 number of stock allowed to the actual 

 grazing capacity of the lands. With 

 range protection a better . grade of 

 stock will be raised and in the long 

 run forest reserve regulations will re- 

 sult in insuring a permanent improve- 

 ment in range conditions, and in- 

 creased prosperity to the resident 

 stockmen. 



The Plumas, Trinity, Klamath, and 

 Lassen Peak reserves are all chiefly 

 valuable for their extensive forest, and 

 excellent stand of merchantable tim- 

 ber. In the Plumas Reserve, of its 

 579,520 acres, it is estimated that 80 

 per cent, is forest land with a stand of 

 accessible merchantable timber aver- 

 aging 7,450 feet board measure per 

 acre. In addition to this, there is al- 

 most an equal amount of timber which 

 at present is inaccessible, but will be- 

 come available in the future when the 

 demand is sufficient to warrant the 

 building of roads for its transporta- 

 tion. 



In the Trinity Reserve it is esti- 

 mated that sixty-five per cent, of the 



