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<br />002311 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />since that time. Cu.rrently, certain segments of the industry are in some dis- <br /> <br />tress, but generally the industry is healthy and an important component of the <br /> <br />economy. <br /> <br />Farming and ranching activities expanded concurrently with the growth of <br /> <br />the mineral industry. The location of farms and early settlements was usually <br /> <br />determined by. the availability of water, irrigable land, and accessibility or <br /> <br />routes of transportation. Lands were initially irrigated by the simplest of <br /> <br />rock or brush diversion structures, and ditches ,and canals, As the economy <br /> <br />matured and higher and less accessible land was developed, more complicated <br /> <br />and permanent irrigation structures were installed. The greater porj;ion of <br /> <br />the report area is devoted to the production of native forage for livestock, <br /> <br />interspersed with areas of irrigated farm!>.' The range areas are essentially <br /> <br />w~ld lands va.lued chiefly for range livestock, wildlife, recreation, and as <br /> <br />watersheds. . The economy of the area has, of course, become m.ore comple" <br /> <br />as it has expanded. Today, major it}dustrial; 'commercial, business,. and <br /> <br />military establishments contribute to .the diversification of the area's economy. <br /> <br />Ra~ching was one of the earliest economic activities in the ba.sin. It ex- <br /> <br />panded rapidly from l830 to 1900, By the turt)..of the century virtually all of <br /> <br />the lands adjacent or accessible to surf~ce water supplies were appropriated. <br /> <br />. Stockmen began developing wells and fencing the ranges they sought to COntrol. <br /> <br />Range use. of public lands during that period was uncontrolled by the Federal <br /> <br />Government. In 1906 the Forest Service began to establish recognized grazing <br /> <br />11 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />