4 Department Circular 318, V. S. Dept. of Agriculture 



Upon such areas homesteaders were encouraged to settle. All these 

 lands have been settled upon and no others are available. 



Prospectmg for minerals may be conducted on the national forests, 

 and after the discovery of minerals mining claims may be located 

 under the Federal mining laws just as on the public domain. There 

 are no additional restrictions. In fact, the Forest Service encourages! 

 the development of the resources of the forests and gives preference 

 to local, established industries in the disposition of products. Many 

 of Arizona's mines are now dependent upon the forests for lumber, 

 timber, and fuel. 



In addition to their economic value, the national forests of Arizona 

 constitute the watersheds of several important rivers in the South- 

 west that are extensively used for irrigation. The large Roosevelt 

 Dam, which impounds enough water to irrigate over 200,000 acres 

 of land, is located upon the Tonto National Forest, in which is also 



Fig. 3. — About 55,000,000 feet of timber is cut fruiu Arizona's national forests 



each year 



a part of the watershed whence this water comes. Forests hold back 

 a great deal of the precipitation, feeding it out slowly through 

 streams and springs. This tends to equalize the flow throughout the 

 year. If these forests are destroyed, however, the snow and rain 

 water runs off rapidly taking quantities of soil with it. Destructive 

 floods and silting of reservoirs are usual results, and during dry 

 seasons springs dry up. Under the Forest Service method of regu- 

 lating the cutting of timber and the grazing, erosion is minimized, to 

 the great advantage of the irrigated valleys. 



It is estimated that Arizona's national forests are each year visited 

 by over 400,000 j^ersons, who find in these cool mountain forests rest 

 and health, to say nothing of hunting and fishing. The Forest 

 Service encourages the use of the national forests for recreation. 

 Campers may use them freely without burdensome restrictions. 

 They are requested only to leave clean camps and to be certain that 

 forest fires are not started. Those who desire more permanent camps 

 may secure permits at reasonable rates for locations upon which to 



