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Show FOREST SERVICE CONTROL When the Forest Service was established in February of 1905 it created a sensation among sheepmen. It was a fact that the forests had been abused by large operators owning many bands of sheep that were allowed to roam vast areas for grazing. A contemporary of John K's has recalled early days when combined herds of an Idaho sheepman were started from the Twin Falls area, driven south into Utah and on toward the central part of the state, then into the mountains, with no restrictions whatever. Such usurpation of grazing land was an infringement upon the rights of the livestock in the central Utah area. Some of the local sheepmen also owned various herds that were abusive to the vegetation since they were in such large numbers. The large-scale owners of sheep must have realized that restrictions were inevitable. The more modest one-herd sheepman cooperated with controls as they were introduced, knowing they would serve to equalize a more 25 fair use of privileges. When the Manti Forest was opened to sheepmen, they rushed to get their camp set up on the allottment they had previously grazed in the forest. John K was successful in obtaining the Staker-Jordan Canyons allottment for his use. Thirty years later it proved to be a fortunate choice, for in March 1935, John K purchased Miller's Flat in the top 26 of the mountains directly east of Mt. Pleasant. 232 |