AMERICAN FOREST CONGRESS 247 



as before. This is not necessary. I believe under 

 existing conditions it is practically impossible for grass 

 or any other plant to get a good start. But given an 

 opportunity the pasture and meadows will recover. 



After spending three seasons in this reserve, I am 

 convinced more than ever that the number of sheep 

 in it should be regulated by wise and judicious rules 

 laid down by the Department of Agriculture, subject 

 to change as the Department may from time to time 

 deem expedient, or entirely prohibited until the forest 

 is in a better condition. The solution of the problem 

 is a difficult one under the present conditions. Public 

 opinion in Utah and Wyoming is decidedly in favor of 

 unrestricted grazing privileges regardless of conse- 

 quences. So long as the Government pursues the pres- 

 ent policy in regard to the semi-arid lands so long will 

 the question remain unsettled. In my opinion the 

 leasing of the semi-arid lands for a term of years 

 will help partly to solve the question for the forest 

 reserves. The free use of our public domain for 

 every one destroys the range to such an extent that the 

 sheepmen are forced to use the forest areas. Free 

 ranges should be abolished. 



In the Bitter Root forest reserve, although larger 

 quantities of water are used than formerly, the water 

 supply from the mountains is scarcely diminished so 

 far as I have been able to learn. The most important 

 factor in the Bitter Root forest reserve to be observed 

 is that the young trees are coming up everywhere in 

 great quantities. Grass and various herbaceous plants 

 are abundant and thick. 



To make the forest reserve more effective, power 

 should be given to the forest supervisor to open roads 

 and trails. In the Uintah forest reserve there can be 

 no doubt that the most important factor in diminishing 

 the water supply is injudicious grazing. 



