8 Department Circular 2k0, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



stockmen are amply protected. Sound principles of range manage- 

 ment, the result of many years of intensive study, are being put into 

 effect on the Xational Forests. The carrying capacity of the differ- 

 ent ranges is being closely approximated; although the ranges are 

 fully utilized, they are not overgrazed. A better distribution of 

 stock is being secured through improved methods of salting, the 

 development of watering places, and the construction of drift fences. 

 Hitherto inaccessible country is being opened up to grazing by the 

 construction of stock trails and other improvements, and ranges are 

 being used by the kind of stock best suited to them. The forest 

 ranges are improving under this system, and their regulated use will 

 not interfere with the production of future crops of timber. 



Prospecting for minerals on the Xational Forests may be carried 

 on under the Federal mining laws with no more restrictions than on 

 the public domain. The same thing is true about the establishing 

 of mining claims after the discovery of ore. A number of Xew 

 Mexico's largest mines are located on or near the National Forests 

 and are dependent upon them for timbers, lumber, and fuel. The 

 use of forest resources for the development of local industries is 

 especially encouraged and applications for the sale of timber for 

 local consumption are given a preference over those for the general 

 market. 



It has been the policy of the Department of Agriculture to en- 

 courage the homesteading of any agricultural lands within the for- 

 ests, and consequently many persons live upon and cultivate home- 

 steads therein. In order to segregate these lands from the strictly 

 forest lands, the Government several years ago completed a classifica- 

 tion of all the Xational Forests. The lands that were designated 

 as agricultural as a result of this examination may pass into pri- 

 vate hands under the forest homestead laws. Most of these lands, 

 however, have already been taken up, and there is now little oppor- 

 tunity for homesteading. Homesteaders on the Forests may graze 

 a restricted number of work and milk stock free. They may also 

 obtain without charge certain classes of timber for fuel and for the 

 development of their homesteads. In addition they are allowed 

 grazing privileges commensurable with the number of stock the 

 homestead will support for the time of the year the stock are not 

 on the Xational Forest. 



The Forest Service is rapidly improving transportation and com- 

 munication facilities on the Xew Mexico Xational Forests. It 

 has built 1,347 miles of telephone lines, 200 miles of roads, and 

 1,450 miles of trails to promote the administration and protection of 

 the forest areas. The annual receipts from the Xew Mexico Xational 

 Forests are about $300,000, and of this amount 25 per cent, or $75,000, 





