72 FOKEST RESERVES IN IDAHO. 



One of the principal objects of the establishment of this reserA^e is 

 stated to be the proper regulation of grazing on the lands. It appears 

 from the report (pp. 9-13) that such regulation is necessary to pre- 

 vent the serious injury, if not the total destruction, of the area as a 

 watershed and for forestry purposes as a result of the serious con- 

 troversy now existing as to this range between the cattle owners and 

 the sheep owners, each class endeavoring to exclude the other from 

 the use of the lands. 



On April 22, 1905, you referred to this office a letter from Senator 

 Heyburn, relating to this proposed reserve, which is as follows : 



^Ir. A. J. I-Iarrell, whose family resides near San Francisco, who votes in 

 Nevada and ranges cattle in Idaho, tells me that he is the owner of 8,000 acres 

 of land in Idaho, 140,000 acres in Nevada, and large tracts elsewhere, and that 

 he wants the Government to create a forest reserve of ahout 11 townships 

 on the headwaters of Rock Creek, Shoshone Creek and that vicinity in Cassia 

 County, Idaho. He is a cattleman. He says there is great danger that the 

 settlers on the public lands in Idaho lower down on these streams will need 

 the timber for building houses, etc.. during the coming years, and he wants 

 the forest reserve created so that the timber will not be available to them. 

 He has made a formal application and advises me that the r3epartment has 

 reported favorably upon it. The interest of Mr. Ilarrell in the welfare of Idaho 

 and its citizens seems to be intense. Waiving what may be excused as a natural 

 curiosity as to how one man has obtained title to so much land, I would suggest 

 that the privilege which he seems to be exercising as an occupant of the lands 

 of several States for cattle purposes is one that should be inquired into. How 

 a man can get 8,000 acres of land in Idaho, the greater part of which is un- 

 surveyed, I do not know, but I would suggest that appeals for the protection 

 of Idaho's interests should come from Idaho's citizens and representatives, 

 and that the titles to this land claimed by Mr. Harrell be inquired into. I can 

 not concede the propriety of creating forest reserves under such influences. 



Said letter was referred here Avith instructions to institute an inves- 

 tigation to ascertain hoAv A. J. Harrell. mentioned in the letter, 

 obtained title to such large bodies of land as alleged. Office letter P 

 to you, dated April 2(j, 1905, reported that Special Agent H." H. 

 Schwartz had been directed to maJvo investigation and report as to 

 Mr. HarrelFs acquisition of lands, and said letter P contained the 

 folloAving paragraph regarding Senator Ileyburn's statements in 

 relation to this proposed reserve : 



With respect to said proposed forest reserve the ofiice would state that it has 

 no record thereof, but that it understands that steps are being taken to establish 

 such reserve. In view of the statements made in the Senator's letter it would 

 appear that an investigation is necessary to determine the conditions under 

 which said reserve is proposed to be created. This particular phase of the 

 matter is submitted for such consideration as may be deemed proper. 



The position of A. J. Harrell, a cattle OAvner, Avith regard to this 

 proposed reserve, and the position and sentiment, generally, of both 

 the cattle OAvners and the sheep OAvners are fully discussed in the 

 report submitted by the Secretary of Agriculture. It appears from 

 the report that Mr. Harrell did, in fact, faA^or the reserA'e in the belief 

 that after its establishment the sheep Avould be excluded from the 

 range. But this Avill not result, as shoAvn by the plan outlined in the 

 report for administering the reserA^e. The plan of administration 

 proposes to bring about an equitable assignment of the range to the 

 cattle oAvners and sheep OAvners, and to place the necessary restrictions 

 upon both cattle grazing and sheep grazing. 



Regarding the OAvnership of lands in this proposed reserve, I haA^e 

 the honor to report that, Avith the exception of the school sections 

 invoh^ed, all the lands are shoAvn bv the records of this office to be 



