The National forests of Arizona

Historic, archived document

Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

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UNITED STATES siiiedoeall
DEPARTMENT or AGRIC

DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR 318

Washington, D. C. August, 1924 |

THE NATIONAL FORESTS
OF ARIZONA

Prepared by the Southwestern District of the Forest Service

CONTENTS

Page Page
Pn iretuciion§ <== - aie ee ee 1 | The Kaibab National Forest ______- =:
The Apache National Forest_______ 5 | The Prescott National Forest _____- 14
The Coconino National Forest_____- 7 | The Sitgreaves National Forest ___- 15
The Coronado National Forest____~_- 9 | The Tonto National Forest ______~- Thy
The Crook National Forest —~_____-~- 11 | The Tusayan National Forest____~- 18

INTRODUCTION

Little does one realize as he speeds through portions of Arizona
on a fast transcontinental train, or motors along a desert highway,
that the far-away blue mountains are clothed with timber. Yet it is
true that the mountains of Arizona contain the largest unbroken ex-
panse of virgin western yellow pine timber in the United States.
One vast forest extends from north of Williams, Ariz., in a south-
easterly direction, for about 300 miles air line, almost to the Rio
Grande in New Mexico. A large part of this timber is situated so
far from railroads that it has not been possible to log it. Most of
the national forests in Arizona have been located in this timber
belt. The other forests cover timbered mountains that are de-

tached from the main body of timber.

There are nine national forests in Arizona, covering an area of
more than 12,000,000 acres and bearing a total "stand of over 14,500,-
000,000 feet of saw timber and 11,500,000 cords of wood. They con-
tain 73 per cent of the timber of the State, and under their present
conservative management are supplying much of the present demand
of the State for lumber, and will go a “long way toward meeting the
requirements of the future. Already a flourishing and well-estab-
lished lumber industry uses these forests as a source of supply. The
amount now annually cut can, however, be considerably increased

before the productive capacity of the forests is reached.

_ The national forests are under the jurisdiction of the Forest Serv-

ice, a bureau of the United States Department of Agriculture. All
the resources of the national forests are for use. It is the policy of

94679°—24 1

2 Department Circular 318, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture

the Government in their administration to make them in perpetuity
most useful to the greatest number of people. In accordance with
this policy, the timber resources of the forests are handled as a crop
under approved forestry practice, and it is proposed ultimately to cut
about the same amount each year. Under such a system it is be-
lieved that the productive capacity of these forests can be largely
increased, and that an annual timber supply, which will make pos-
sible the establishment of a permanent lumber industry, is assured
to the State.

The cut of timber from the Arizona national forests in 1923 was
42,000,000 feet. Although there are some large operators, much of
this timber was cut by men having small mills. As these forests are
further developed the timber cut will no doubt increase until their
productive capacity is reached, which is well over 100,000,000 feet
of timber annually. It may therefore be expected that in the future

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Fic. 1.—Western yellow pine—the important timber tree of Arizona

local material will take the place of much of the lumber that now
enters Arizona from the Pacific coast.

The worst enemy of the forest is fire. Where fires burn, no forests
can be produced, and although fires in the yellow pine forests of
Arizona rarely kill mature trees, they damage them and burn up
young trees which would otherwise form the new crop. Forestry
is therefore impossible where forest fires are allowed to burn uncon-
trolled, and the first duty of the national forest administration is to
protect the forest resources against fires.

About one-half of the fires on Arizona national forests in 1923 were
the result of the carelessness of man. The rest were caused by light-
ning. Of those caused by man nearly two-thirds were due to camp-
ers and smokers. Much damage to the forests could, therefore, be
prevented if persons who go into them would be more careful. The
forest administration requests the cooperation of the public, both
in preventing fires and in reporting them if they do occur.

The National Forests of Arizona 3

A large grazing industry is dependent for range upon the national
forests of Arizona. In fact, much of the summer range of the State
is located upon these forests, to which the cattle naturally drift and
the sheep are driven in the spring. About 290,000 cattle and 280,000
sheep find range on these mountainous areas. Although there are
some very large stockmen using national forest range, the great
majority of the grazing permittees are owners of small herds, and
many of them have farms in connection with their stock business.
The Forest Service encourages the use of the range by this class
of stock raisers, and under the Government permit system they are
given ample protection for their stock.

It has always been the fundamental policy of the Forest Service to
put the national forests to their highest use, consistent with the
primary purpose of their establishment, for timber production and

Fic. 2.—When ripe the timber on the national forests may be cut. Provision for future
stands is made by leaving seed trees

watershed protection. That is why regulated grazing is allowed,
why agricultural lands may be homesteaded, and why occupancy
permits for many other uses are issued.

The grazing capacity of the various forest ranges has been estab-
lished as-a result of scientific study, and upon each range is allowed
only so much stock as can use it without detriment to the growing
timber and the range. Improvements, such as drift fences and
water-development projects, have been constructed on many of these
ranges in order that they may be fully utilized. Most of these
have been built by the permittees themselves, although a few for
which funds were available were financed in part by Government
funds.

Several years ago the lands within the forests were classified and
all those found suited to agriculture were listed as homesteads.

4 Department Circular 318, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture

Upon such areas homesteaders were encouraged to settle. All these
lands have been settled upon and no others are available.

Prospecting for minerals may be conducted on the national forests,
and aiter the discovery of minerals mining claims may be located
under the Federal mining laws just as on the public domain. There
are no additional restrictions. In fact, the Forest Service encourages
the development of the resources of the forests and gives preference
to local, established industries in the disposition of products. Many
of Arizona’s mines are now dependent upon the forests for lumber,
timber, and fuel.

In addition to their economic value, the national forests of Arizona
constitute the watersheds of several important rivers in the South-
west that are extensively used for irrigation. The large Roosevelt
Dam, which impounds enough water to irrigate over 200,000 acres
of land, is located upon the Tonto National Forest, in which is also

Fic. 3.—About 55,000,000 feet of timber is cut from Arizona’s national forests
each year

a part of the watershed whence this water comes. Forests hold back
a great deal of the precipitation, feeding it out slowly through |
streams and springs. This tends to equalize the flow throughout the
year. If these forests are destroyed, however, the snow and rain |
water runs off rapidly taking quantities of soil with it. Destructive
floods and silting of reservoirs are usual results, and during dry
seasons springs dry up. Under the Forest Service method of regu- |
lating the cutting of timber and the grazing, erosion is minimized, to
the great advantage of the irrigated valleys.

It is estimated that Arizona’s national forests are each year visited |
by over 400,000 persons, who find in these cool mountain forests rest
and health, to say nothing of hunting and fishing. The Forest
Service encourages the use of the national forests for recreation.
Campers may use them freely without burdensome restrictions.
They are requested only to leave clean camps and to be certain that |
forest fires are not started. Those who desire more permanent camps
may secure permits at reasonable rates for locations upon which to_

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The National Forests of Arizona 5

build summer homes. Municipalities and associations of various
kinds are encouraged to establish community camp grounds.

To make these forests more accessible and to develop their re-
sources, transportation and communication facilities are being built
up as rapidly as possible. Approximately 1,500 miles of telephone
_ lines have been constructed, and road and trail work is being rapidly
extended into these mountain regions. The annual receipts from
the Arizona forests are nearly $500,000, of which 25 per cent, or
about $125,000, is turned into the county funds for roads and schools,
In addition, 10 per cent, or $50,000, is annually used for the con-
struction of roads and trails upon the forests. With the steadily
increasing receipts, the funds which accrue directly to the benefit of
the State will correspondingly increase from year to year.

The Forest Service maintains the Fort Valley Experiment Sta-
tion, 9 miles northwest of Flagstaff. This station studies problems of
forestry and silviculture, and the putting of its results into prac-
tice on the national forests is making the forests more useful as
sources of a continuous timber supply. The station has had a very
great influence upon forest practice in the southwest and has already
overcome some of the most difficult obstacles which confronted Gov-
ernment foresters in the regeneration of the timber stands of the
Arizona forests.

Near Tucson, Ariz., the Santa Rita Reserve of some 50,000 acres
of semidesert grazing land is used as a grazing experiment station.
Here many of the range problems forest officers meet in handling
grazing on the Arizona national forests are studied under actual
working range conditions. Over 1,200 head of high-grade range
cattle are used on the reserve, the herd being under close observa-
tion by the forest officers in charge of the work at all times during
the year, the stock being handled by the owners according to a coop-
erative schedule.

The national forests of Arizona are under the supervision of the
district forester at Albuquerque, N. Mex., with the exception of the
Kaibab Forest, which, because of its location north of the Grand
Canyon, has been placed under the supervision of the district forester
at Ogden, Utah. Each forest is administered by a forest supervisor,
under whom a number of rangers are employed. The supervisors,
whose offices are in towns conveniently located in relation to their
forests, are glad to give detailed information concerning their re-
spective forests.

THE APACHE NATIONAL FOREST

(In Apache and Greenlee Counties)

Off the beaten path, in the White Mountains of Arizona, stretching
along the New Mexico line from Springerville to Clifton, lies the
Apache National Forest. For the most part it is high mountain
country with mountain meadows, rugged peaks, and deep canyons.
The forest lies in the country over which the Apache Indians at one
time roamed, and from them it takes its name. It covers a gross area
of 1,226,420 acres and is administered from Springerville, Ariz., a
small town on the transcontinental National Old Trails Highway,
ot 100 miles southeast of the Santa Fe Railroad at Holbrook,

riz.

¢ Department Circular 318, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture

The timber resources of the Apache, which have practically not
been touched by the ax, are estimated to consist of 2,400,000,000
board feet of saw timber, of which 75 per cent is western yellow pine.
The remainder is made up mostly of Douglas fir, white fir, and |
spruce. In addition, the south end of the forest has extensive stands
of pifon and juniper which contain 300,000 cords of wood. Most ~
of the saw timber is now inaccessible because of its distance from the
railroad. For this reason, the present annual cut of about 1 million
feet is confined to the timber needed for local consumption by small
communities and ranches on or near the forest. In future years, the
Apache Forest may be expected to occupy an important place in the
timber production of the State.

Within this forest there are a few flat, treeless areas suitable for
the growing of crops. Such lands have been listed in 215 tracts,
which have been settled upon by homesteaders. Of the lands which

Fic. 4.—About 300,000 sheep find range on the national forests of Arizona

have been retained in public ownership, none are considered to have
sufficient value for agriculture to warrant alienating them as home-
steads.

A large livestock industry has been developed upon the Apache
Forest, and all of the available range is now used under Govern-
ment permits. It supports a total of 34,000 cattle and 34,000 sheep,
which are owned by 184 permittees, most of whom live on or near
the forest. Much of this stock spends only its summer on the high,
cool mountain ranges of the Apache Forest, and is driven to the
lower-lying country to the north and south for the winter. In addi-
tion, 263 settlers on the forest are allowed to graze nearly 3,000 head
of work and milk stock on the forest free of charge.

Besides its purely commercial value, this forest is of immense im-
portance because of its location on the headwaters of many of the
streams ultimately running into the Roosevelt Reservoir, which sup-
plies irrigation water and power for the Salt River Valley. Upon
such an area, therefore, conservative lumbering should be practiced

The National Forests of Arizona 7

and grazing must be regulated. This is assured under national
forest administration.

In order to make mountain areas like the Apache Forest more
accessible to travelers, and in order that fires may be more easily
reached, the Forest Service is developing lines of communication.
In accordance with this policy, 209 miles of telephone lines, 84 miles
of roads, and 160 miles of trails have been constructed on this forest.
A road from Clifton to Springerville, running through the heart of
the finest mountain scenery on the Apache Forest, is now being built
by the Forest Service in cooperation with Apache and Greenlee
Counties. This project, which will be completed before the end of
1924, will allow travel between northern and southern transcon-
tinental routes. Several other roads, which connect with the trans-
continental system, are now being built into the forest from the
north. The completion of these roads will do much to make the
forest more popular for camping, fishing, and hunting. Even then,
however, many portions will still be far enough in the “ backwoods ”
to delight those who desire to get away from the main routes of
travel. Within the Apache National Forest there are several hun-
dred miles of trout waters. As the State has recently established a
fish hatchery within this forest, excellent trout fishing is now as-
sured during the summer months.

THE COCONINO NATIONAL FOREST
(In Coconino and Yavapai Counties)

The most accessible and at present the most valuable of any of
Arizona’s national forests is the Coconino, lying on the Colorado
Plateau on both sides of the Santa Fe Railway. It is a large, com-
paratively flat area, at an elevation of approximately 7,000 feet, cut,
however, toward the south end by several deep canyons. North of
the Santa Fe Railway, rising abruptly from this plateau to an eleva-
tion of 12,600 feet, are the San Francisco Peaks, the highest in
Arizona. The Coconino National Forest contains a gross area of
1,909,278 acres and is administered from Flagstaff, which is located
within its boundaries. The forest takes its name from the Hopi
word Hohonino, which was the name at one time applied to the
Havasupai Tribe of Indians of Cataract Canyon.

Originally, the Colorado Plateau contained the finest body of west-
ern yellow pine timber in the Southwest. Because of its accessibility
from the Santa Fe Railway, however, much of this timber has been
cut by large mills at Flagstaff, Cliffs, and Williams, Ariz. The forest
still has nearly 4,000,000,000 feet of mature yellow pine, a part of
which is now under contract for cutting by the three large mills in
this region. This forest now supplies a large part of the lumber
produced in Arizona, and under the Forest Service policy of con-
servative cutting, it will supply the lumber industry for a long
period of years. At the present time, the annual cut of timber from
this forest is about 35,000,000 board feet. There are on the forest
also about 1,500,000 cords of pifion and juniper, portions of which
are now being cut for posts and firewood.

A comprehensive plan for handling the timber resources has
been completed for the saw-timber type on the forest. According

8 Department Circular 318, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture

to this, the forest is capable of supplying 40 million feet of saw
timber annually. Cutting will proceed at such a rate that by the
time the virgin timber is removed, it will be possible to start cutting
on the new growth. Under this system the forest will produce
successive crops of timber which will provide approximately the
same cut each year for a permanent lumber industry.

The excellent summer ranges of the Coconino National Forest
have long been well known among the stockmen of the Southwest.
They are, therefore, fully stocked with about 43,000 cattle and
75,000 sheep. Most of this stock leaves the forest during the winter,
at which time it is grazed in the surrounding semidesert country
at lower elevations.

A large part of the Coconino National Forest, especially the north
end, has little or no living water upon it. Springs are scarce and

Fic. 5.—The national forests of Arizona provide range for 310,000 cattle

streams are unknown. In order to use the range to its full capacity,
it became necessary to store flood waters. Many stockmen’ have
spent large sums cf money in water-development projects, which
are protected under Government permit. To some extent, also, the
Government has cooperated with these men in the building of drift
fences and other range improvements.

As on the other Arizona national forests, homesteaders have
already secured all the lands which would make desirable farm
units. These lie in 334 tracts widely scattered throughout the
forest.

Many people from the surrounding semidesert regions are find-
ing Flagstaff and vicinity, with its cool summer climate and its
stately pines, a most delightful place to visit in summer. Some have
built summer homes; others camp in the forest, or stay at the little
mountain resorts. Although the scarcity of water on the Colorado
Plateau makes many places undesirable, fortunately two lakes south

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The National Forests of Arizona 9

of Flagstaff provide excellent opportunities for recreational develop-
ment. One of these, Mormon Lake, located about 30 miles south of
Flagstaff, is the largest natural body of water in the State. It
offers good bass fishing, and there are many camping places along
its shoreline of over 12 miles.

There are many other wonders which attract tourists to this
region during the summer months. The San Francisco Peaks offer
opportunities for mountain climbing to heights from which the
greater part of Arizona and portions of several other States may
be seen. Then there are the cliff dwellings in the Walnut Canyon -
National Monument, 9 miles east of Flagstaff, and the wonderful
Montezuma Castle and Well about 60 miles south. The Painted
Desert, just northeast of the forest, presents those distant views of
green, gold, crimson, and purple found only in the Southwest.

Roads and trails have been constructed primarily to protect this
forest against fire, but they are available also to the traveler seeking
recreation in the cool mountains. The Coconino National Forest
has the largest fire hazard of any forest in the Southwest. It ordi-
narily has one-third of all the forest fires occurring in the national
forests of the State. Lightning is responsible for many of them, as
there are often in June severe electrical storms which are ac-
companied by little or no rain. Records show, however, that 40
per cent of all the fires occur through carelessness of man. To aid
in the protection of this forest, lookout towers and a complete tele-
phone system covering 222 miles have been established. The con-
struction of roads and trails is also being continued each year.

THE CORONADO NATIONAL FOREST

(In Cochise, Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz Counties in Arizona, and Hidalgo
County in New Mexico)

The Coronado National Forest lies in nine divisions, and is com-
posed of mountain ranges which for the most part rise abruptly
from the southern Arizona desert. The most important mountains
in the forest are the Santa Catalinas, the Santa Ritas, the Hua-
chucas, the Tumacacoris, the Dragoons, and the Chiricahuas. There
are two small divisions containing 129,152 acres in the extreme
southwestern part of New Mexico. The gross area of the entire for-
est, which is administered from headquarters at Tucson, is 1,486.980
acres. The forest is named for Don Francisco Vasquez Coronado,
the Spanish explorer who in 1540 crossed southern Arizona in his
march from Mexico in his search for the Seven Cities of Cibola,
which had been reported to him as having large stores of gold.

The Coronado National Forest has no extensive saw-timber stend
and can never become the source of supply for a large lumber in-
dustry. Much of it is exceedingly rough country with the good
saw-timber stands high up in inaccessible country. At lower ele-
vations, however, there are heavy stands of oak, together with con-
siderable pifon and juniper. These are of much value in supply-
ing the ranches in the surrounding treeless areas with firewood and
fence posts. A few small mills in the more accessible saw-timber
stands will always supply at least a portion of the local demand.

94679°—24 9

10 Department Circular 318, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture

The Coronado National Forest is estimated to contain 290,000,000
board feet of saw timber and 3,748,000 cords of wood. The cut of
saw timber and other forest products in 1923 was 685,000 feet.

The Coronado National Forest, however, assumes great significance
as the watershed of the surrounding valleys, in many of which it is
important to maintain the supply of underground waters. Under
the Forest Service administration these watersheds are protected, the
flow of the short, rapid mountain streams is regulated, and the supply
of underground water is maintained.

The forest also supports a cattle industry of 41,000 head, owned
by 241 permittees, most of whom are local men. In addition, about
400 small ranchers graze over 2,000 head of work and milk stock on
the forests free of charge. The forest has been divided into range
allotments, many of which have been fenced, and the stock is so
handled that the entire range is utilized but not overgrazed.

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Fig. 6—The giant cactus is found at the lower edge of some of the southern
Arizona forests. Here are some of the important watersheds which must be
protected against erosion

There are in these mountains numerous small flat areas which
could either be irrigated or upon which dry farming could be prac-
ticed. Those which were not homesteaded before the creation of
the forest have now been settled upon by 294 persons who secured
title to a total area of 40,290 acres. No additional lands are now
available for agricultural settlement.

The Coronado National Forest has a large fire hazard during the
long dry period in the spring. It has been difficult, because of the
inaccessibility of the country, to handle the’ many fires that have
occurred. To overcome this difficulty the Forest Service has been
developing means of detection and communication. Lookout towers
and telephone lines have been constructed in order that fires may be
readily located, and a comprehensive system of roads and trails is
being built.

The opening up of lines of communication is also making the
Coronado National Forest accessible’ to the summer visitors who

The National Forests of Arizona Tt

wish to escape the heat of the surrounding semidesert areas. ‘These
persons are being encouraged to make the fullest use of the forest
for recreation purposes. A good road constructed some years ago
to the top of the Santa Catalinas has put this beautiful mountain
country at the very door of Tucson, whose citizens, as well as those
of several other towns, are using it in greater numbers each year.
Other localities, such as Cave Creek in the Chiricahua Mountains,
Madera Canyon in the Santa Ritas, and Cochise Stronghold in the
Dragoons, where excellent summer-home sites and camping places
are available, are being more widely used each year by.residents of
the valley towns. i

Several of the divisions of the forest offer limited deer hunting
in the fall. The Santa Catalina and Huachuca divisions, however,
have been set aside as game preserves upon which no hunting of any
kind is allowed.

THE CROOK NATIONAL FOREST

(In Gila, Graham, Maricopa, and Pinal Counties.)

The Crook National Forest contains 912,161 gross acres, and is
administered from headquarters at Safford on the Gila River. The
forest les in five divisions, four of which rise abruptly from the
southern Arizona desert and are in the Graham, Galiuro, and Santa
Theresa Mountains. The other division consists of the mountainous
country north and west of Globe. The forest is named after Gen.
George Crook, who was in charge of the United States Army in its
operations against the Arizona Indians from 1871 to 1875.

Large portions of the forest are made up of precipitous mountain
country, quite difficult of access from the flat areas below. Most of
the saw timber is found on the Mount Graham division. There,
high up in the mountains, is one of the heaviest stands of western
yellow pine and Douglas fir in the entire Southwest. Its area, of
course, 1s small, and it is difficult and expensive to get the timber.
Several small mills, however, cut timber for use in the surrounding
valleys. The remainder of the forest contains little saw timber, but
there are large areas of woodland which supply most of the fuel
wood for the surrounding settlements. The total stand of timber
is estimated at 376,000,000 feet of saw timber and 450,000 cords of
wood. The total cut of forest products from the Crook National
Forest was 1,085,000 board feet in 1923. The timber business, though
small, gives employment to a considerable number of men. This is
shown by the fact that in 1923, 313 separate sales were made. Most

of these were for cordwood.

The forest supports a livestock industry consisting of about 25,000
cattle and 3,000 sheep, which are permitted to 150 persons. In addi-
tion, 170 ranchers and settlers graze their work and milk stock, con-
sisting of over 1,000 head, free of charge. For the most part the
stock grazed on the forest is the property of men who own small
ranches and carry on this business in connection with them. These
men are encouraged to handle their stock efficiently and to improve
the ranges, and at the same time they are protected in their under-
takings through their national-forest permits.

12. Department Circular 318, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture

Because of the ruggedness of the Crook National Forest, only
6,436 acres of agricultural land have been alienated under the forest
homestead act. These lands lie in 120 tracts, which contain all of the
agricultural lands that were in Government ownership at the time
of the creation of the forest.

Roads, trails, and telephone lines are being developed on the
Crook National Forest both to aid the administration and protection
of the forest and to allow the public to visit it more conveniently.
There are hundreds of beautiful camping places in these mountains,
and already Mount Graham, although difficult of access, has become
a favorite summer recreation ground for residents of the adjacent
Gila Valley. The Pinals, where road work is progressing, are also
visited each year by an increasing number of persons from the min-
ing towns of Globe and Miami.

The Mount Graham division of the forest has been set aside as a
game preserve where hunting is prohibited. On the remainder of the
forest, however, there is fair deer shooting in the fall of the year.

Fic. 7.—The mountain streams afford good trout fishing

THE KAIBAB NATIONAL FOREST
(In Coconino County)

Just north of the Grand Canyon, in a country little known as yet,
hes the Kaibab National Forest, with a gross area of 770,900 acres,
administered from the town of Kanab, Utah. The forest takes its
name from the Kaibab Plateau upon which it is located. This
plateau in turn is named after a small division of the Piute Indians
who roamed there, and it is said to mean “on the mountain.”

Although the Kaibab National Forest is estimated to contain
1,102,000,000 board feet of saw timber and 533,000 cords of fuel wood,
there is practically no cutting at the present time because of the
inaccessibility of the timber. On the south, the Grand Canyon of the
Colorado prevents access, and the closest railroad to the north is 185

miles from the timber. Over 80 per cent of the saw timber consists

of a heavy stand of western yellow pine, which, from a logging and

oh 5 saci lima

——

The National Forests of Arizona 13

lumbering standpoint, ofiers as few engineering difficulties as any
similar belt of timber west of the Rocky Mountains. As railroad
construction is extended toward the forest, the Kaibab is destined
to become one of the important lumber-producing forests of the West.

Before the forest was created the range now within it had been
badly overgrazed and its carrying capacity is, therefore, low. At
present only about 5,600 cattle and 3,500 sheep are grazed on this
area. This is less than one-third of the stock which the ranges
formerly carried. Owing to the increasing numbers of deer on this
forest, which includes the Grand Canyon National Game Preserve,
the numbers of domestic animals have been constantly reduced in
order to prevent a possible scarcity of feed for the game, the needs
of the game being considered as superior to those of domestic ani-
mals. These reductions will be continued as far as possible without
depriving local settlers who are dependent upon the range of a
reasonable amount of grazing for their stock.

The Kaibab National Forest is beginning to claim much popular
attention as a sight-seeing and recreational region for the reason
that it lies on the road to the Grand Canyon National Park from
the north. The canyon itself, with a border varying in width from
1 to 5 miles from the rim of the plateau top, is in the National
Park, and here are the great scenic attractions of the region, the
leokout points from which spectacular views may be had out over
the canyon. Less spectacular, yet no less interesting, are the scenes
which are in store for the traveler as he passes through the forest.
its stately pines, alternating with grassy parks, in contrast with
the surrounding desert and its animal life, attract immediate at-
tention.

Chief interest hes in the large number of mule deer which range
en this plateau, giving it its popular name of “ Buckskin Mountains.”
It is estimated that there are over 25,000 mule deer on the forest, and
they are seen in considerable numbers by everyone who passes
through this region. Sometimes at dusk they may be seen by the
hundreds at certain favorite places.

Mountain lions have found this area a paradise, and the region
has been famous for lion hunting. Several hunters, employed espe-
cially for this kind of hunting, have greatly reduced the numbers
of these animals in recent years, but the beasts are still far from
extinct in this locality.

Owing to the isolation of the region it has become tne home, and
indeed the only home, of the Kaibab white-tailed squirrel, a gray
squirrel with a white tail and tufted ears, which is locally quite
common, although entirely unknown elsewhere.

The whole forest is a Federal game sanctuary and no shooting is
allowed at any season. As it hes like a oasis in the desert, the
normal drift of deer out of this region is prevented, and under
protection their number has increased to such an extent that they
have become a problem in game management. In order to check
the excessive increase of deer,. therefore, it may become necessary
to issue a limited number of licenses for hunting them on designated
areas.

While the Kaibab National Forest offers these attractions, it
has one great drawback as a recreation area. It is practically
without water. The main highway strikes the chief watering

14. Department Circular 318, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture

places, yet even some of the “lakes” along this road become mere
pools of warm, unpleasant water in midsummer. Experienced
campers may, however, take interesting pack trips into this forest
in spring and fall, when water is available.

THE PRESCOTT NATIONAL FOREST
(In Yavapai County)

Lying in two divisions east and west of the town of Prescott
(named in honor of the great historian), from which it takes its
name, is the Prescott National Forest. It contains a total gross area
of 1,365,169 acres and its headquarters is in Prescott.

The Prescott National Forest is primarily a watershed-protection
forest which contains very little saw timber. There is, however, an
immense area of piion, juniper, and oak woodland which is of con-
sedirable importance as a local fuel supply. At one time there was

Fic. 8.—Cliff dwellings as well as other wonders abound on the Arizona forests

more timber, but much of it was cut for mining purposes before the
creation of the forest. The cut-over areas now contain excellent
stands of young timber which will later produce lumber. The
present stand of merchantable timber is estimated at 180,000,000 feet
of saw timber and over 2,000,000 cords of fuel wood. Its timber-
sale business provides timber entirely for local consumption and
during 1923 amounted to 1,523,000 feet.

Most of the forest is upon the watershed of the Verde River, the
waters of which are used to irrigate large areas of farm land. It is
important, therefore, that this watershed be protected, in order that
floods may be minimized and the streamflow regulated. Under
Forest Service administration protection is assured.

The Prescott National Forest supports a well-developed livestock
industry. Upon its ranges graze annually about 52,000 cattle and
49,000 sheep, which are owned by 199 permittees. Many of the
sheep which graze on the northern forests of the State during the

The National Forests of Arizona 15

summer months find winter range on the Prescott Forest. In addi-
tion, settlers are given free range for about 1,600 work and milk
stock. The grazing of livestock is so regulated that the ranges
are not overgrazed and the watershed is not damaged.

What few agricultural lands remained on this forest at the time
of its establishment have now been alienated in 110 tracts, which
contain 8,847 acres. Although the agricultural possibilities are
small, large portions of the Prescott Forest contain minerals. Many
mining claims have, therefore, been located, and there are a number
of paying mines. The famous United Verde Copper Mine is near
the Verde division of the Prescott Forest.

Although the Prescott National Forest does not present the num-
ber of attractions that are found on some of the forests in the higher
mountains, it does have many alluring spots for recreationists. It
is used during the hot summer months by the residents of the valley
towns surrounding it. Residents of Phoenix maintain a large
colony of summer residents at Iron Springs, 7 miles from Prescott,
located in a fine stand of yellow pine. Mingus Mountain, not far
from Jerome, offers a cool retreat among the pines, and Groom Creek
is much enjoyed by Prescott people. Both are easily reached over
good roads.

As in the other national forests, the Forest Service is developing
means of transportation. Probably the project of most interest to
the public will be the Phoenix-Prescott road, in the construction of
which the Forest Service is cooperating with the State. This road
will extend for miles through .cool forested areas.

THE SITGREAVES NATIONAL FOREST

(In Apache, Navajo, and Coconino Counties )

Stretching for nearly 100 miles along the north side of the
Mogollon Rim and containing 881,102 gross acres, lies the Sitgreaves
National Forest. It is named for Capt. L. Sitgreaves, United States
Topographical Engineers, who headed a scientific expedition through
this country in the early fifties. The supervisor’s headquarters is at
Holbrook, on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway.

The Sitgreaves is one of the most heavily timbered national forests
in Arizona. It contains more than 4,000,000,000 feet of saw timber,
nearly all of which is western yellow pine, and 1,000,000 cords of
pinion and juniper. Only small amounts of this timber, the greater
part of which is from 40 to 60 miles from the nearest railroad have
been cut. It was too far back for profitable logging. Several years
ago, however, a large operation started on the east end of the Sit-
greaves For est and on the adjoining Indian reservation. The annual
cut of this forest is still only about 7,000,000 board feet, although
in the not distant future it should increase.

The saw-timber resources on this forest are being handled under
a management plan which provides for a cut of timber of approxi-
mately 35,000,000 feet anually. This is estimated to be the annual
growth on the forest. This annual cut will supply a large lumber-
ing operation on a permanent basis.

It is believed that within a few years a turpentine industry will
be established on a large scale in the Southwest. To anticipate this
demand the Forest Service has already taken stock of the turpentine

16 Department Circular 318, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture

resources of this forest and is prepared to make sales under such

conservative methods as will maintain the continued productivity’

of the forest.

Like other southwestern forests, practically the entire range on
the Sitgreaves is used to support a stock industry. This consists
of 7,000 cattle and 40,000 sheep. <A great deal of this stock uses the
forest only in the summer, seeking in winter the lower desert ranges.
In addition, however, many head of work and milk animals are
grazed free of charge by the settlers.

Scattered among the yellow pine areas are frequent level openings
upon which crops can be raised. Where these were large enough to
make feasible farm units, they were settled upon under the forest
homestead act, and in this way 43,903 acres have been alienated.
The 390 settlers who now cultivate these lands have practically all
the available agricultural lands in the forest.

Because of its heavy timber stands and its comparatively flat
topography, the Sitgreaves National Forest is bound to become an
important factor in the lumber industry of the Southwest. It lacks
the scenic attractions of some of the more rugged mountain forests,
but for this very reason it is of high value as a timber-producing
forest.

The west end of the forest, however, is cut by a number of deep,
precipitous canyons, which render use and even travel difficult. It
forms a natural wilderness 50 or 60 miles from the railroad and has
been considered, therefore, an excellent place into which to introduce
elk. Accordingly, some years ago a small herd of elk was sent there
from Wyoming. These animals have been protected against hunting
and have increased rapidly, until their number is now estimated at
500. If they continue to increase, it is not unlikely that a limited
amount of elk hunting will be allowed in this region within a few

ears.

: Because of its large timber values, special efforts have been made
to protect this forest against fires. It has an excellent lookout system
entirely connected by telephone lines. Fires are usually located by
triangulation soon after they start. The network of roads and trails
already built gives quick access to every portion of the forest and
allows the rangers to reach fires before they become large. The
Promontory Butte lookout tower on this forest is 110 feet high and
is the highest tower in the Southwest.

THE TONTO NATIONAL FOREST
(In Gila, Maricopa, Pinal, and Yavapai Counties)

The Tonto National Forest, named for the Tonto Apache Indians,
a branch of the Apache Nation, contains a gross area of 2,154,255
acres and is the largest in Arizona. It is administered from Phoenix.

The Tonto Forest was established largely for the purpose of pro-
tecting the watershed of the Roosevelt Reservoir, which furnishes
water for irrigation for the great Salt River Valley. Much of its
area is covered only with brush, but overgrazing and uncontrolled
fires would destroy this, and serious damage to the Salt River Valley
would result, The Forest Service administration protects this vast

The National Forests of Arizona 17

watershed through conservative management of the grazing and other
resources. Thus the effects of erosion are minimized and silting of
the reservoir is retarded.

There is, however, a considerable body of timber on the Mazatzal
and Sierra Ancha Mountains and under the Mogollon Rim within
this forest, where 593,000,000 feet of western yellow pine and Douglas
fir saw timber are found. In addition, it is estimated that 1,087,000
cords of pinon, juniper, and oak wood are located on the Tonto
National Forest. Because the stands of saw timber are scattered,
no large timber operations can ever be established on this forest.
The very fact that there is so little timber in this country, however,
makes the existing stands more valuable for local consumption, and
several small mills have already been established. ‘These mills cut
during the past year 185,000 feet of timber from the forest.

A large cattle industry uses the Tonto Forest, and about 67,000
cattle and 19,000 sheep were grazed during 1923 by about 200 per-
mittees.

As on the other Arizona national forests, the agricultural lands
have all been settled upon. Three hundred and twenty-five tracts
have been listed under the forest homestead act.

Within this forest is the famous Roosevelt Reservoir, reached by
good roads from Phoenix and Globe. This lake is about 30 miles
long and offers excellent bass fishing. Near it and accessible by
automobile are the Tonto cliff dwellings, relics of an ancient and ex-
tinct civilization. Because of the exceedingly mild winter climate
these wonders can most comfortably be visited during the winter
months. In the north portion of the Tonto Forest hes the Arizona
Natural Bridge, a high limestone arch spanning Tonto Creek, a
little mountain stream. A good road connects it with the Phoenix-
Globe Highway at Roosevelt.

Although the Tonto Forest does not have the attractions of the
high forested mountains, yet its rugged semidesert scenery appeals
to many, and its streams, in places shaded by walnut groves, offer
beautiful camping places. Its importance lies not in its beauty,
however, nor in the timber stand, but in the large influence which
this area has on the prosperity of the Salt River Valley with its
population of nearly 100,000 persons. It is doubtful whether this.
valley could remain prosperous without adequate protection of the
watershed from which its irrigation water comes.

THE TUSAYAN NATIONAL FOREST
(In Coconino and Yavapai Counties)

The Tusayan National Forest, with headquarters at Williams, lies
in the western part of the Colorado Plateau. It consists of two
divisions, one surrounding the town of Williams and the other ad-
joining the Grand Canyon National Park. Its gross area is 1,494,-
438 acres. Its name is derived from the Hopi Indian province of
Tusayan, which was described by the chroniclers of the Coronado
expedition of 1540-1542 as existing in northern Arizona.

Because of its accessibility and its fine timber stand of western
yellow pine, lumbering has been going on for many years. The
forest still has 770,000,000 board feet of timber and 1,045,000 cords

18 Department Circular 318, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture

of pifon and juniper cordwood. It supports one large sawmill,
one small mill, and a number of cordwood operations which together
cut from the forest during 1923 a total of 14,366,000 board feet of
timber and other forest products.

A detailed plan of timber management has been made for the
Tusayan National Forest. Under it the extensive cut-over areas
within this forest, many of them logged off before the forest was
created, are being so handled and protected that new stands of
timber will grow. Even though much of the forest is to-day w'th-
out merchantable timber stands, it will in the future become a large
factor in the lumber industry of Arizona. The carrying out of the
plan will also help to stabilize lumber operations in this region.
The plan also provides for the systematic handling of the large
cordwood operations which are being conducted on a sustained-
yield basis.

Within the forest there is excellent summer and winter range,
which, because of its accessibility, has been fully stocked for many
years. It now supports 18,000 cattle and 59,000 sheep. Approxi-
mately 50 per cent of the cattle graze on the forest yearlong, but
practically all the sheep go to lower desert ranges during the winter.
In addition, a large number of work and milk animals is grazed
free upon the forest by settlers.

Very little settlement on the agricultural lands within the
Tusayan Forest occurred before its establishment as a national
forest. The greater part has since been taken up under the home-
stead law. About 359 tracts have been alienated under this act.
All of the agricultural land has now been listed and opened to entry,
and there are no more homesteads left. Several good-sized farm-
ing communities, which aid materially in the protection of the
forest against fire, have become established. Notable are those near
Red Lake, in Pitman Valley, and in Spring Valley, as well as the
Garland Prairie and Government Prairie communities.

The greater part of this forest is comparatively flat. The roads,
however, especially into the more remote portions of the forest are
generally poor. This condition is being remedied as fast as funds
permit and in accordance with a comprehensive road-building
program. In order to protect the valuable timber stand of the
Tusayan National Forest from fire, these roads are badly needed.
At the same time roads will provide the public with means of
access to the heavily timbered regions.

The Forest Service maintains a complete telephone system of 95
miles, which makes it possible to report forest fires soon after they
are discovered. Lightning causes most of the fires, but careless
persons are still responsible for nearly one-third of them.

There are pretty spots for summer homes in many parts of the
Tusayan Forest, but because of the scarcity of water and the absence
of running streams, it does not present to the seeker of recreation
as many attractions as do some of the other forests of the South-
west. One finds here, however, a wonderful summer climate and
many restful places among the stately pines.

18 Department Circular 318, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture

of pifion and juniper cordwood. It supports one large sawmill,
one small mill, and a number of cordwood operations which together
cut from the forest during 1923 a total of 14,366,000 board feet of
timber and other forest products.

A detailed plan of timber management has been made for the
Tusayan National Forest. Under it the extensive cut-over areas
within this forest, many of them logged off before the forest was
created, are being so handled and protected that new stands of
timber will grow. Even though much of the forest is to-day with-
out merchantable timber stands, it will in the future become a large
factor in the lumber industry of Arizona. The carrying out of the
plan will also help to stabilize lumber operations in this region.
The plan also provides for the systematic handling of the large
cordwood operations which are being conducted on a sustained-
yield basis.

Within the forest there is excellent summer and winter range,
which, because of its accessibility, has been fully stocked for many
years. It now supports 18,000 cattle and 59,000 sheep. Approxi-
mately 50 per cent of the cattle graze on the forest yearlong, but
practically all the sheep go to lower desert ranges during the winter.
In addition, a large number of work and milk animals is grazed
free upon the forest by settlers.

Very little settlement on the agricultural lands within the
Tusayan Forest occurred before its establishment as a national
forest. The greater part has since been taken up under the home-
stead law. About 359 tracts have been alienated under this act.
All of the agricultural land has now been listed and opened to entry,
and there are no more homesteads left. Several good-sized farm-
ing communities, which aid materially in the protection of the
forest against fire, have become established. Notable are those near
Red Lake, in Pitman Valley, and in Spring Valley, as well as the
Garland Prairie and Government Prairie communities.

The greater part of this forest is comparatively flat. The roads,
however, especially into the more remote portions of the forest are
generally poor. This condition is being remedied as fast as funds
permit and in accordance with a comprehensive road-building
program. In order to protect the valuable timber stand of the
Tusayan National Forest from fire, these roads are badly needed.
At the same time roads will provide the public with means of
access to the heavily timbered regions.

The Forest Service maintains a complete telephone system of 95
miles, which makes it possible to report forest fires soon after they
are discovered. Lightning causes most of the fires, but careless
persons are still responsible for nearly one-third of them.

There are pretty spots for summer homes in many parts of the
Tusayan Forest, but because of the scarcity of water and the absence
of running streams, it does not present to the seeker of recreation
as many attractions as do some of the other forests of the South-
west. One finds here, however, a wonderful summer climate and
many restful places among the stately pines.

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