21 



their roots, are gone, then come the fall rains which wash the 

 rich surface soil into the streams and leave behind poor soil, which 

 soon becomes hard, so that succeeding rains rapidly run off. 

 When the roots of the plants are destroyed there is nothing to 

 hold the soil together, hence it is easily washed, forming gullies 

 which in time become creeks during the rainy season. This con- 

 dition of the range can be seen from Webber Lake to Soda 

 Springs Station on the north, and from Summit Soda Springs to 

 Soda Springs Station on the south, where every year numerous 

 bands traverse this region to be shipped on the railroad. 



Severe trampling must also be considered in regard to its 

 effect on the plants on the range. Owing to the large number of 

 sheep which pass over the land and their habit of feeding in close 

 bunches, makes them more destructive than other kinds of stock. 

 Contrary to our expectations, however, young fir seedlings, from 

 two to six inches high, were not injured by the sheep passing 

 over them. They do not eat them, and the plants seem to be of 

 such a wiry texture that they spring back into place as soon as 

 released by the feet of the sheep. 



It seems to the writers that with proper care and management 

 the forage on the ranges of the Sierra Nevadas visited by them 

 might be made to produce double the amount now growing on 

 them, as devastation has only just begun. Most of the best forage 

 plants are still there, and all they want is an opportunity to 

 reseed themselves at least every other year. The soil is rich and 

 capable of producing a much larger quantity of forage than is now 

 on them. If the present methods on many ranges are continued, 

 within a few years the number of sheep will have to be greatly 

 decreased, more land will have to be rented, and finally the sheep 

 industry, which adds greatly to the prosperity of the State, will 

 come to a close. 



CONTROL OF THE RANGES. 



The area of the State of Nevada is 112,090 square miles, or 

 71,737,600 acres. According to the report of the Commissioner 



