A History of the Ochoco National Forest: Different Perspectivesand Times by Allen H. Hodgson, Phil F. Brogan, C.S. Congieton, GroverC. Blake, and others A HISTORY o t OCHOCO NATIOALPOThBT. By Allen H.Hodg8on. ]pit1 Foro3tSupervisor. Soptembor 1913. 0WfLINJ AND INDLX of A HISTORY OP PRI 0(111000 NATIONAL PORES! Page 1. Introduction - I. The purpose 1 II. The area dieeuesod I 3 The Region Before Roreet Reserves Were Established - 2 r. me first settlement 2 II. Establishment of forte 2 III. land grabbing 3 IV. The struggle for range a. Range wars 5 V. Range overcrowded and becomes poor 8 C. The PropoDed J1Th Creek and Blue Mountains Forest Reserves 8 I. Petition of the Crook CountyattloznQn'e Association-8 11. r1y policy of the Forest Service -- - - - - - 8 III. Forect Inspector Langille's report 10 a. Recommendations as to boundary 10 at Area of original withdrawals 10 a. Stookrnen of Crook County petition 11 d. Final recommendation.. 1]. a, Public sentiment 11 The mlner'o objections 12 14 _____________________ Most important mining camps h, Of the timber withdrawal 14 Operations of lumber companies 15 COnsumption of timber 16 Placer mining 16 1. Reoomniendations for administration 17 3 The Proposed Iury Mountain Forest Reserve 17 I. I. Braniffa report 17 - -.--- L The Creation ot the Blue Mountains and Maury Mountains Forest Reserves 18 The Dvieion of the Blue Mountains Forest Reserve - - 18 Both Reserves put under administration 18 Authorleation to permit grazing 19 Division of Reserve Into grazing districts 20 7. First Banger examination held in PrinevIlle 21 71. First estimate of administrative expense 21 First letters of authorization- 22 Agricultural settlementAct of June 11, 1906- 24 Stocianon's meeting held at Canyon CIty 24 -. -a - 7 Pa Grazing letters of authorization 2 Assistant Inspector iriokson'a report 25 aDnproement a - - 25 bPrice. for aturnpage 26 0. Notices insect infestation 26 d. Pree e 26 0. Game - 26 f. 1tiaatof timber 26 Reoornend.s obange of headqi2.arters 27 The plan or red13tr1ctinthe Forosta 27 Leet1ig of Giazing Advisory Board at The Dubs- 28 Meet1ig oftlsers ofthe P'crest at Prinoville- - - 28 a. Mr. Yneipp's Report- - - - - - -- - - 28 The purose of the rneoting 28 Inve8tigates charges aaInst administration- - 29 Grant County Wool Growers Indorso administratIon 29 The situation In the Blue r.ountaina (vi) 29 Paper allotment system - - 30 Reduction of size of Forest 30 3imry of general situation 30 Charges nmde by the Antelope ahaepnten 31 Reoounendationa- - 32 P. The Proposed Rodivialon of Forest Boundaries Making the Old Deøchut National Forest - - - - G. mMn.ry Mountain !atIona1 Forest Boeo'es .a.Part of. the Blue Mountains (w) H. Boundary Report Made by Forest Jpert L. T7ornetedt-- - 35 I. Recomxioudatjone II. - J'aotora controlling work and reomew3-ations 35 IIIGeneral clmractor ot lands abonboundary 37 I.Rooei,ta and Disbursements FIscal Year 1907 - - - 38 Blue Mountains (vi) National Forest - - 38 Maury Mountains National Forest 38 J. Public Sentiment-. - x:. Creation of the Maiheur National Forest 39 I. - Deputy Supervisor C. J. BinghArn tacea charge 39 L. The Supervio's First Grazing Report 40 It. The Changeof the Supervisor's Readquartera 41 I. The FieldForce of 1908 41 0. p3 for Redistricting the National Poreute 41 Pace Creation of the Deeohntea NationalForest 42 Supervisor called to Washington, D. C. 42 The Pau]ina MountainsFire 43 a,Imageandoost- - 45 4. tabliehment of District Headquarters at Portland- - - 45 B. IaexRmiflAtiOfl of Forest Boundary- 47 I. Change of boundaries Creation of the Paulina, Deaøhutes andOchoco National Poreata 47 The Ochoco National Forest 48 Change of boundary between Ooh000 and lheur Forests- 48 Area -- 49 Division into Ranger Districts 49 IT. Supervisor Ireland resigns 49 V. Supervisor Rosa takes charge 49 TI. The Forest during Mr. Ross'administratiOn 49 conclusion 50 _._____t____._ - and 211e purpose of this workis to compilein a conorete readable form the massof material nowavailablebearing on the history of theOchocO National Forest,from the beginning boundary of the original Reservethrough the variouschanges of that such a to the National Forest asit nowis.It is hoped written inthe compilation will be ofvalue should therebe Forests, as future a history of theUnited States'National wall as ofgeneral and localinterest to Forestofficers. North The greater portionof the BlueMountain Range in Union, eastern and Central Oregon,lying partlyin tbatifla, Crook Counties, OO1fl' ker, Grant, Ualheur, Rarney,Wheeler and prisea the territory firstdealt within this history.The the north boundary region begins aboutfort-f1Ye miles eouthof of the State and follows the Mainrange of theBlue Mountains along a southerly course forapproximately onehundred miles, turn at which point the rangedivides into twoprincipal spurs eastward al- trig off at right angles to it. The spur leading most to the Snake River on theIdaholine is blown asthe Burnt River Mountains, while thespur pointingto the westmakes up divide the Strawberry MountainS. The latter rangecomprises the Pork of the between the rugged canyonS of themiddle and south watersheds of the aOhn Day RiVer on the north, and the upper Desohutes River on the south.It extends westalmostto the I Lower Des chutes River. I; After the period of exploration, inwhich the Lewis and Clark expedition, the lVbitman tragedy,andexplorations of other men of lesser note were chapters,there followed the period of early settlement in Oregon. The discovery of gold in the west and the glowing accountsof the agricultural pos eibilitiee of the land brought many peoplefrom the east to this land of promise. Great numbers of these immigrants followed the old routes formerly chosed by theearly explorers which lead through the blue Mountainregion. An these people journeyed through theinland territory,the possibility of permanenthomes began to nzke its appeal,and some ofthem I aeaeed traveling and selected lands tomeet their needs as homes.Then inthe late fifties gold was discovered atdiffer- ent pointsIn theBlue Mountains which created aruah, notonly from the tst, but from the Willamette Valley andCalifornia as well. Many of these people finally settledand baoameperTflafl' p ently established. During the fifties and sixtiesthe uprisings ofthe Indiana made aonditiona80unsafe for the residents, as well as thetin- migranta passing through the land,thatthe Government estab- iIhed forts at intervals along the main routes f immigration. where soldiers were stationed. tkidoz' the protection of the tOOp2the people mined, farmed and raised atook. The latter POvad, to be very profitable, and as the country was sowell adapted to the occupation, it quickly became the most impvrtant. Thflocks and herds were wintered in the lowervalleys and Plaine, arid as soon as spring opened, they were driven to the -2- ideal amer range of the Blue Mountains. With the increase of stock the ranges began to be crowded, and in order to control the feedand water the stookmen began to aoonMnlate land under the Oovernment land laws, by purchase, and by other means. This was practiced to such adegree that the Blue Mountain range became virtually controlled by a corn- paratively few menand companies. Forinstanoe,-the Pacific Livestoek Company(the Oregon Branch o:f the Miller and Lux Gonoern of california) aoquired title to verylarge holdings which gave them a greatadvantage over thesmaller local atookmen. Shortly prior to this period, in 1865, the Willamette Valley and Cascade MountainWagon Road Company was organized.This GOmpany received from the Government as a grant, every odd eec- tio of land for a distance of six miea on each side of a road a].]. the way aeroethe State. The land thus received by this 1th1n the 8lue LTnuntalne along involved approximately 10,800acres. At about the sametime The Illee Military Wa' was organized to build a road from The miles Igon Road Company to CanyonCity, which lies in Grant County.This company re- I OOived as a grant from the United States about 61,160 acres Withi the Blue Mountain country. In addition to this, every 8°otion 15 and 36 had. been given to the State of Oregon and the 8Zeater part of this land liadpissed into private ownership. aore3 of land were aleo a1Lenated within the Blue Monntø a1region as State Lieu SeleotIons. Without doubt a great deal of fraud was praotieed in se Zthg title to the land. Final certificates were received for 4 homesteads on lands situated high ip in the mountains where it is impossible to make a home or to comply with the homestead laws. It has been statedthatthe Pacific Livestock Company aecured title to many claims by directiri their cowboys and ether employees to locate homesteads on tracts of desirable grazing lands or springs, andpaying them5O.00andtheir expenses for their trouble and ranch. Many stateschoolsectionswere also declared mineralin character and relinuiehe& by the Statewhenthe tracts bore no trace of mineral.It is believed that this relinquishment was madeas a scheme tosecure basefor lieu, selections Timber companieswere also btisy securingvastholdings in the moat valpable timbsr belts. &nalI land owners were either bought up or frightened out of the country, and. it is whispered thatis a few oases small land owners ox' homesteadersmyater- loualy disappeared. In these waysthousands Ofacres of timber andgrazing lands Passed from the hands of the Government and the territory be- Osine alandof scattered butlargeholdings with stock raising as the chief industry. The Blue Mountinaworethespring