Show Dixie National Forest Expands Range Seeding Program In Local Area Relieving the demand for spring-fall spring range In the Widtsoe area aren of Garfield county count the Dixie National forest is vigorously pushing the tho seeding of grazing grazing- lands ands in Johns Valley Supervisor or Albert Albertson reports the seeding of 1700 acres In this area irea In 1945 Forest service crews cres beginning begin- begin ning In early spring worked until until until un un- un- un til late fall with heavy disc plows and crawler tractors preparIng preparing preparing pre pre- paring seed beds upon land supporting supporting supporting sup sup- porting only dense stands of tall rabbit brush which Is practically practically practically ally worthless for grazing The brush was replaced with crested wheat slender wheat and brome range grasses planted plante with heavy duty drills Fencing has been constructed construct construct- ed to protect the area against livestock until the grasses become be- be conic come well established Supervisor Albertson stated stated that hat the work Is part of oC a broad program of ot range being done by the Dixie forest in n Johns Valley which whIch- up to thIs his time totals more than acres The forest service administers admin admin- some acres of land landin in n the valley formerly controlled by the Resettlement Administration Administration Adminis- Adminis that have been transferred transfer- transfer red ed to its jurisdiction for improvement improvement improvement im im- im- im provement and development The lands ands which are arc almost completely completely completely com com- surrounded by the Dixie National forest ranges are a natural and Integral part of the forest The entire area is to bu reclaimed for use by livestock to o them provide them with spring-fall spring range ange the the tho supervisor said Settlement in fn Jol Johns ns V Valley began in 1910 the first residents being heing dairymen n coming corning from Crom Sevier valle valley Tropic and Esca- Esca lante ante Early farming was begun near the streams coming into the val valley ey Grains were the prIncipal principal principal pal crops grown Then the area was boomed as a dry tIry farming bonanza Vast were broken up and tilled for the production production pro pro- of farm crops Settlement continued until In 1914 the tho valley boasted a population population population lation of 1200 people It flourished flourished flourished flour flour- a community first known as Sweetwater then renamed Winder VInder which In 1917 became Widtsoe The town was surveyed and laid out in blocks that centered with a city park There was a school church hotel stores service service service ice stations and homes It looked as though Widtsoe an and Johns Valley were Vere to prosper when alas farming failed to support the growth and investment that originally had hatI mushroomed Crops were grown successfully In only one year out of oC five on the average Precipitation which comes conies mainly In the form of snow averages but 11 Inches an an- Winters are long and bleakly cold Lands in the valley range from to feet el elevation elevation elevation el- el and the settlers had not realized the tho risks of farming land Under these conditions migration migration migration mi mi- gration from Crom the valley soon began began began be be- gan with hopes and fortunes lost The exodus con continued continued contin contin- until in 19 1935 5 only 42 12 familIes families families lies all in poor circumstances remained Land owners petitioned the government and a purchase and relocation project was formed under th the n e. e Adminis Adminis- The population was transferred to localities of proven en worth Now the only residents in Johns Valley are one family in addition to the forest ranger and his family The lands torn up in cultivation cultivation cultivation tion by the settlers soon grew vigorous stands of rabbit brush and other harsh species and are arenow arenow arenow now In the custody of ot the forest service to restore Alms Aims of the forest service in managing the lands lantIs Is to halt deterioration conserve water and vegetate productive areas with grasses for range livestock Planted areas when grasses are established will provide a sustained annual yield of ot forage of one month cow-month per acre With cattle gains at two pounds per head per day which Is a conservative conservative statement for spring gains the area with progressive range management will Increase the supply of beef b by thousands of pounds each cach year the supervisor or said The economy of ot Johns Valley once planned In reverse with with farming is now being changed by range and water development work to bring profit to the livestock industry and steaks to the family table Other range projects projects projects pro pro- completed b by the Dixe forest forest forest for for- est in 1945 include acres in the Jones Corral cattle dIstrict district district dis dIs- of ot the East Sevier division which serves forest of Circleville and Antimony and acres In the Upper SevIer cattle district of the Powell division division division di di- di- di vision wl which ich serves of Escalante and antI Boulder Grasses planted Include crested wheat slender wheat and brome sown in mixture as required for different elevations The planting planting planting plant plant- ing of the 2100 2400 acres in 1945 combines with earlier work making making making mak mak- ing a total of acres of range that extends to stimulate greater production of range forage on numerous allotments allotments allotments allot allot- ments throughout the Dixie forest forest for for- est Albertson said |