The National Forests of Arizona 17 



watershed through conservative management of the grazing and other 

 resources. Thus the effects of erosion are minimized and silting of 

 the reservoir is retarded. 



There is, however, a considerable body of timber on the Mazatzal 

 and Sierra Ancha Mountains and under the Mogollon Rim within 

 this forest, where 593,000.000 feet of western yellow pine and Douglas 

 fir saw timber are found. In addition, it is estimated that 1,087.000 

 cords of piiion, juniper, and oak wood are located on the Tonto 

 Xational Forest. Because the stands of saw timber are scattered, 

 no large timber operations can ever be established on this forest. 

 The very fact that there is so little timber in this country, however, 

 makes the existing stands more valuable for local consumption, and 

 several small mills have already been established. These mills cut 

 during the past year 185,000 feet of timber from the forest. 



A large cattle industry uses the Tonto Forest, and about 67,000 

 cattle and 19,000 sheep were grazed during 1923 by about 200 per- 

 mittees. 



As on the other Arizona national forests, the agricultural lands 

 have all been settled upon. Three hundred and twenty-five tracts 

 have been listed under the forest homestead act. 



Within this forest is the famous Roosevelt Reservoir, reached by 

 good roads from Phoenix and Globe. This lake is about 30 miles 

 long and offers excellent bass fishing. Xear it and accessible by 

 automobile are the Tonto clifi' dwellings, relics of an ancient and ex- 

 tinct civilization. Because of the exceedingly mild winter climate 

 these wonders can most comfortably be visited during the winter 

 months. In the north portion of the Tonto Forest lies the Arizona 

 Natural Bridge, a high limestone arch spanning Tonto Creek, a 

 little mountain stream. A good road connects it with the Phoenix- 

 Globe Highway at Roosevelt. 



Although the Tonto Forest does not have the attractions of the 

 high forested mountains, yet its rugged semidesert scenery appeals 

 to many, and its streams, in places shaded by walnut gi'oves, offer 

 beautiful camping places. Its importance lies not in its beauty, 

 however, nor in the timber stand, but in the large influence which 

 this area has on the prosperity of the Salt River Valley with its 

 population of nearly 100,000 persons. It is doubtful whether this 

 valley could remain prosperous without adequate protection of the 

 watershed from which its irrigation water comes. 



THE TUSAYAN NATIONAL FOREST 



(In Coconino and Yavapai Counties) 



The Tusayan Xational Forest, with headquarters at Williams, lies 

 in the western part of the Colorado Plateau. It consists of two 

 divisions, one surrounding the town of Williams and the other ad- 

 joining the Grand Canyon Xational Park. Its gross area is 1,491,- 

 138 acres. Its name is derived from the Hopi Indian province of 

 Tusayan, which was described by the chroniclers of the Coronado 

 expedition of 1540-1542 as existing in northern Arizona. 



Because of its accessibility and its fine timber stand of western 

 vellow pine, lumbering has been going on for many years. The 

 forest still has 770,000,000 board feet of timber and 1,045,000 cords 



