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Show Reduction of Manti National Forest Graz- ing Found Necessary. . tipequenc8 of the conclusive i, - jT' 7which has besa laid before I'tary of agriculture of injury ViyaJ and other interests vy grazing of certain e Manti national for-yretary for-yretary Wilson has ,junt of stock which I to graze on this forest 1,500 head of cattle and Ai.OOO head of sheep, uction of 2,000 in the cattle and horses, and e number of sheep. As been great apprehension farmers and townspeople m ' Joug the streams fed from thftiiV-. ?vm t.pr h prlfl loaf. ntjBr(ra9in mated at from $75,000 to $125,000. Last spring Chief Forester Graves visited Ephraim aud was impressed by tho seriousness of the conditions on the Manti forest. The prohibition of grazing in Manti canyon in 1903 had apparently contributed to the great reduction of damage by floods to the city of Manli. To ascertain whether by a modigeatiou of the graz ing now permitted the same protection protec-tion might be given to Ephraim and other towns bo orkered an investigation, investiga-tion, the outcome of which is the reduction re-duction now made. It was found that in parts of the forest surface conditions are far from satisfactory, and that some areas have reached a point it wldch erosion will become more and more serieus if the vegetation is not givsn a chance to return. It is now evident to Secretary Wilson that the national forest officers, offi-cers, in thtir desire not to curtail use of the range by stockmen any furth er than was niade absolutely necessary, have been too liberal in their recommendations recom-mendations as to the amount of grazing graz-ing to be permitted. ' The experience in Manti canyon is believed to indicate that the proper restriction of grazing will diminish the volume of flood waters, reduce the anuual property loss and add to the general prosperity of the country. It has consequedtiy been decided to restrict re-strict grazing upon the areas surrounding surroun-ding the headwaters of the various s'.rearm, by setting aside a strip approximately ap-proximately two miles in width from which stock will bo excluded except for limited periods. In order to take this step it has been necessary to re duce the total number of sfock grazed upon the forest, and while reduction will entail some embarrassment and inconvenience to a number of stock growers, Us general result is expected to be of so great benefit to the community com-munity rs a whole that Secretary Wilson considers no other course is open but to make the reduction. hould seriously jeopardize their interests. in-terests. This apprehension was based on the actual experience of the pist. Reports which have been submitted sub-mitted .o Secretary Wilson by officers of tho department show that, unre tricted grazing before the Mauti national forest was created had very serious results. The range was badly overcrowded and abused,' with the result that the natural covering of vegetation was largely destroyed, the eoi! was loosened, and conditions favorable fa-vorable to rapid erosion were created. The high slopes began to gully so that when ihe heavy rainstorms broke upon the mountains the canyous poured down mud-laden streams upon tho towns and farms. With these flood-streams were car-ii-ddown heavy boulders, log and driftwood. Not only was standing grain washed down and fields covered wiih piles of gravel ana other debris, but stietaB aud lawns were overflowed wi h water which m its t retreat left b -hind it a thick layer of offensive Bediment. Water supplies for domestic domes-tic us were oontaraikated from the presence of stock on the watersheds as well as from the soil wash. The t vns of Ephraim, Mt. Pleasant, H tutington, Orangeville, Ferron and , 8 lima ve-e severe Bufferers, whilethe city of Manti, which is located directly direct-ly at the mouth of the canyon aud oloan to the base of the hills, suffered damage, including depreciation of p:opirty, betwja 1398 mi 19J2 eiti- |