with the supervisor and ranger during the fall of 1924. This ride by forest officers and committeemen from the association was made, and following the ride a meeting was held at Cokeville with the advisory board and several interested permittees. It was the conclusion of the members in attendance at this meeting that certain changes could be made in the trail, but that no individuals should suffer reduction of allotment in order to accomplish this. The specific recommendations of the committee being as follows: "The Smiths Fork sheep trail committee, consisting of Mr. John Stoner, chairman, and Messrs. Dan Conley, William Currier, and L. W. Roberts, after having ridden on Smiths Fork Trail from Smiths Fork entrance to and including the "Hogs Back" on Grays River during the period September 8 to September 10, inclusive, submit the following as their recommendation for improvement of the trail which constitutes all improvements that the committee believes can be made in the trail at this time, and that these improvements will render the trail satisfactory. "First. Beginning at a point where Smiths Fork intersects the forest boundary the trail should be changed from its present location to the porcupine ridge so that it will follow porcupine ridge from Smiths Fork intersection with forest boundary east and north to head of Smiths Fork with following holding ground. The head of Smiths Fork down as far as the bend to the west and including boundary creek coming in from the east.' The new trail to join the old trail at head of Smiths Fork. "Second. A bridge across Grays River at about present location below mouth of Corral Creek. "Third. The 'Hogs Back' being a serious impediment to progress over the trail, it is proposed to eliminate this section by (first) the Forest Service cutting out about 2 miles of trail immediately east of the 'Hogs back,' and (second) by going around the Hogs Back,' using Grays River. "Fourth. A holding ground on Grays River south of Hogs Back from Hogs Back to the ridge immediately north of Martin Creek and from Grays River east to head of the drainage. "JOHN H. STONER, "DAN CONLEY, The following resolution was adopted by the executive committee sitting as an advisory board in regard to the above matter: “Resolved, That the report of the special committee of September 8 and 9 be accepted on that part of the proposed new trail lying north of Corral Creek and that it be rejected as applying to that part of the trail lying south of Corral Creek, thus leaving the trail between Corral Creek and the south forest boundary line temporarily the same as heretofore. This, with the understanding that the entire trail as proposed by the committee will be given further consideration by the forest officials and the advisory board, with view to completing the change as soon as necessary adjustments in adjoining allotments can be made." Full approval was given the above-quoted resolution, and it is being carried into effect. In regard to permanency of allotments, we must advise that aside from changes of allotments where only a portion of the sheep have been returned to the allotment we will say that 95 per cent of the allotments on this forest have remained the same for many years. Cattle divisions have also remained permanent except in a few cases where they have been enlarged. BIG PINEY ROUND-UP ASSOCIATION'S STATEMENT One of the charges presented by the Big Piney Round-up Association's representatives, P. W. Jenkins and T. D. O'Neil, was to the effect that forest officers were inexperienced and, as Mr. O'Neil put it, "Could not run a cow outfit themselves without being in the hands of the receiver," or words to that effect. We must advise, in connection with experience, that of the eight district rangers on this forest seven were raised in the West on ranches with attendant livestock work. The other ranger, J. J. Albano, who happens to be in charge of the Big Piney allotment, was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, moved to Missouri about 1900. was on a ranch there about 5 years and came West in 1905, worked in the mines in Colorado and on haying jobs on ranches until 1907; 1907 to 1911, inclusive, was cow puncher for Burns's association and the Carey outfits; 1912 to 1913, ran own ranch in Colorado; 1914, worked for Woods's livestock in Idaho; owned ranch in eastern Idaho and operated same from 1913 to 1919; is still the owner of cattle in eastern Idaho. The supervisor and assistant supervisor of the forest were both western raised on ranches where cattle and sheep raising is the principal industry, and are still interested in ranch property in western Idaho. Relative to resolution 1 of the Big Piney Association that the present forest boundary includes all forested areas, we must say that according to best estimates there are 70,000,000 feet of timber immediately east of the forest boundary and on the Big Piney public domain. The picture which is inserted below shows some of the timber outside the forest. In regard to resolution 4, in which request is made for settling of local grazing administration and that stockmen be allowed to cooperate in making of rules, this with specific reference to salting, distribution, numbers, etc., we must advise in respect to this resolution that fullest cooperation has been desired and requested by the Forest Service for a great many years. This cooperation has been requested of them at various meetings as well as in writing. To my knowledge the association has actually sent a committee with us on two occasions to look over range matters. On various other occasions the stockmen did not make the trip. Back as far as October, 1918, when an inspector was to ride over the range, the association was urged to send a representative with the forest officers, but this they did not do, as is indicated by the following extract from the inspecting officer's (Mr. Winkler's) report submitted October 16, 1918: “I arrived in Big Piney, Wyo., the evening of August 14, from which point I proceeded to the Snyder Basin ranger station for the purpose of making a range inspection of the east slope of the eastern portion of the Wyoming Forest, giving particular attention to the cattle range assigned to the Big Piney Roundup Association and the Beaver and Horse Creek range. On August 15 Supervisor Beam and myself held a meeting with the advisory board of the Big Piney Association for the purpose of arranging for a delegation of the board to accompany us over this range. I regret to state, however, that it was not possible to induce the board to send representatives, as they contended that such an arrangement would be impossible in view of the fact that they were then busy harvesting the hay crop and that the labor situation was such that it would be impossible for them to leave. I made a special effort to induce Mr. Frank D. Ball to accompany Mr. Beam and myself, but he contended that he would be unable to leave. He was very anxious, however, that some member of the board accompany us and remarked several times that he was too heavy to make an extensive ride of that kind." You will see from the following extracts of correspondence what action has been taken in this vicinity to secure their cooperation in helping to solve range problems: MEMORANDUM OF SHEEP AND CATTLE LINE RANGE TRIP JULY 9, 1924. The special committee of the Big Piney Roundup Association, Messrs. H. Budd, Dan Rathbun, Dave Guthrie, and Ad Moffat, together with Forest Officers Brackett, Nord, and Favre, have ridden the range from Fish Creek to North Cottonwood. Following the three-day ride the committee of stockmen submitted a request for changes in sheep and cattle line, based upon their findings after having ridden both sheep and cattle range in the vicinity affected by the line, as follows: From South Piney Creek to Mount Sehidler to remain as at present, and from Mount Schidler northwest to head of meadows at Davidson Camp about onehalf mile above narrows of North Piney Creek; thence north to include within cattle allotment the east face of ridge between north and middle branch of North Piney Creek. Thence east to the narrows; thence north along crest of Coal Mine Mountain to Bear Mountain, thence north along crest of Bear Mountain to South Cottonwood Creek, thence northeasterly to upper edge of heavy timber; thence along upper edge of heavy timber in northeasterly direction to top of first large hill east of Lander Peak, thence old line to North Cottonwood. The forest officers agree that the line in general as requested is reasonable and since the line generally separates the grazing of the two classes of stock by prominent topographic features and affords a most natural division of forage for the two classes and also facilitates the management of both classes. We agree to seriously attempt the readjustment of the line as above requested at as early date as practicable. In regard to the particular division requested in North Piney above the narrows, it is felt that this change represents such small area and in all probability will result in increase complication of management of stock if an exclusive allotment for cattle were made, and, therefore, further study will be given before definite statement is made as to exclusive allotment of this range for cattle. C. E. FAVRE, Forest Supervisor. Mr. JAMES JENSEN, KEMMERER, WYo., March 13, 1925. Secretary Big Piney Roundup Association, Big Piney, Wyo. DEAR SIR: According to our memorandum given your association last summer in which we stated that we would attempt to place the sheep and cattle line on top of the first main ridges immediately west of the mill pond. In accordance therewith we have made the arrangement to remove the sheep from the east face of Bear Mountain and Coal Mine Mountain, and the inclosed map now represents sheep and cattle line as was drawn in accordance with our promise last summer to attempt to place this line on top of the ridges indicated. Very truly yours, C. E. FAVRE, Forest Supervisor. Mr. JAMES JENSEN, BIG PINEY, WYo., August 11, 1924. Secretary of Association, Big Piney, Wyo. DEAR SIR: During a recent trip through the North Piney watershed I noticed the conditions of the Big Piney cattle allotment on this watershed to be too closely grazed at this time. Apparently there are too many stock on this unit. On a similar trip over the North Cottonwood watershed I found an abundance of feed for several hundred head of cattle for the remainder of the grazing season. At the present time there are about 200 head of cattle grazing contentedly on the North Cottonwood Creek watershed and doing well. I am, however, unable to find any salt on this unit of the range and it is therefore presumed that this stock may drift out while other stock will not likely come in of their own accord. In view of these conditions, I would suggest that you advise the Big Piney Roundup Association of the congested and closely grazed condition on North Piney Creek, as well as salt and forage conditions on North Cottonwood Creek and request them to move in the neighborhood of 1,000 head of the cattle now on North Piney Creek to the watershed of North Cottonwood Creek, unless they choose to move about these numbers of cattle from North Piney Creek to South Cottonwood Creek, and in turn move the cattle now grazing on South Cottonwood Creek to North Cottonwood Creek. At the present time, the tie operations are more extensive on South Cottonwood Creek than on North Cottonwood Creek, and yet large numbers of cattle are apparently grazing contentedly and doing well on the south creek. There was a very small amount of salt found remaining on this area. Even if it was necessary for the stockmen to retain a herder on the forest boundary to keep the cattle from drifting down after the additional numbers had been placed on North Cottonwood Creek watershed, the returns would apparently exceed the expense considerably. I wish to bring these matters to the attention of the Big Piney Roundup Association at this time in order that the overgrazed conditions existing on the watershed of North Piney Creek may be relieved, and also that your cattle might get the advantage of the better forage conditions existing on the watershed of North Cottonwood Creek. Very truly yours, C. E. BRACKETT, Deputy Forest Supervisor. In a statement to the association on September 16, 1924, by Assistant Supervisor Nord he said in part: ** The cattle first entering the forest ranges as natural drift congregated to some extent and grazed the low-lying ranges first. Later the round-up moved large numbers of cattle on to the forest ranges, usually on to the low-lying ranges first, from where they were distributed to the higher portions of the range. This method of handling resulted in overgrazing and a damaging effect on some of the lower portions of the forest ranges, and particularly the range in North Piney Basin. An examination of practically all of the subunits of the Big Piney range allotment was made during the middle of September and the following conditions recorded: Considerable forage remaining on South Piney Creek and tributaries, being grazed at the present time principally by the Homer cattle. There was also considerable forage also found on Fish Creek, but also a sufficient number of cattle were also seen on this watershed to utilize the remaining forage by the close of the present grazing season. Considerable unused forage was also found on the south fork of Middle Piney Creek, and very few cattle were seen in this locality. The watershed of Middle Piney Creek was found well grazed, as was also the condition on North Piney Creek, with the exceptions of the basin. Practically no forage was found at all in North Piney Basin, and it is believed this section of range was heavily overstocked and damaged. It was also found dur ing this examination that the forage on South Cottonwood Creek had been completely utilized, while on the watershed of North Cottonwood Creek a large amount of unutilized forage was found remaining. These conditions, in my opinion, indicate a lack of distributing the cattle over the range in such a way as to secure the harvesting of the forage crop to the best advantage and a distinct loss to the cattle industry. As a step toward better control of the stock on the range the establishment of individual riders on each of the important watersheds of the Big Piney grazing unit is advocated, so that more direct control over the cattle may be had throughout the season. In view of the conditions existing on the watersheds of North Piney Creek and on North Cottonwood Creek I wish to leave the question to the judgment of this association as to whether the services of a rider would not have been more than compensated for by the advantages gained in keeping the cattle distributed so the grazing would have been less intensive on the watershed of North Piney Creek and the forage crop more completely utilized on North Cottonwood Creek." At a meeting, March 31, at Big Piney, with the Big Piney Association, Assistant Supervisor Nord and the ranger in charge of the district took up many matters with them relative to salting, distribution, herders, etc., and he was under the impression that the association agreed to accomplish much in the way of distribution of stock during the year 1925, and thereby to secure utilization of areas heretofore admitted much underutilized, and to relieve areas which had been overgrazed. The assistant supervisor, in his memorandum commenting on the results of the meeting advised "It was also the desire of the association that we work in cooperation with them in determining the division of stock by watersheds, i. e., the number of stock to go on the respective units." It appears as though from the following correspondence that satisfactory management of this range has not been accomplished. Mr. H. L. BUDD, BIG PINEY, Wyo., July 27, 1925. President Big Piney Roundup Association, Big Piney, Wyo. DEAR MR. BUDD: This is to advise you that the stock handled by your association upon your allotment is very poor again this season. To date very little salt has been placed upon the range, especially the Cottonwood Creeks drainage. The following request was made of your foreman: That 1.200 head of cattle be placed upon the range of North Cottonwood Creek, 800 head upon South Cottonwood, 600 head from the ridge south of South Cottonwood to the ridge north of North Piney, 900 head for the Middle Piney drainage, and just natural drift for North Piney, if it did not exceed approximately 500 head, as we will not allow over 500 head on North Piney this season. The cattle should be distributed in many small bunches and salt placed for each bunch over the range. So far all the cattle have been driven up the main creeks and just dropped in one bunch. In South Cottonwood they are hanging on the overgrazed ridges near the forest boundary. North Cottonwood has very few, North Piney has by far too many, and the off portion in the head of Muddy is grazed to the ground. I am requesting that you and some members of the advisory board meet me August 3 for the purpose of Covering all the allotment, both the on-and-off portions, so that we may get better distribution of this stock and better utilization of the range forage. I will meet you at any point on the allotment that you name. cover the range as it should be it will require at least five days. Very truly yours, Mr. H. L. BUDD, I believe to J. J. ALBANO, Forest Ranger. BIG PINEY, WYo., August 26, 1925. President Big Piney Roundup Association, Big Piney, Wyo. DEAR Mr. BUDD: On August 17, 18, 19, and 20, I inspected the portion of the Big Piney Roundup Association's range in Fish, Middle Piney, and North Piney Creeks. Prior to that date I had covered the North and South Cottonwood portion. The stock is very poorly handled on all. Fish Creek has very few stock on it. The lower portion of Middle Piney is grazed too close, as the stock has hung too low. All of North Piney is overgrazed, inasmuch as forage is wasting on the Cottonwoods. |