Diary, 1909 May 1-December 1

File — Box: 2, Volume: 2

Identifier: II

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

During the missing interval between the first and second diary, Woodbury married Grace Atkin. In early February Woodbury moved his young wife to the Pine Valley Ranger Station where they remained for five months. While stationed at Pine Valley Woodbury surveyed two new additions to the forest, one near Enterprise and one near Pinto. He also investigated sites for new ranger stations at Bigelow, Magotsu and Beaver Creeks. One of his most time consuming duties was examining homestead claims filed under the June 11, 1906 Act. In July, Woodbury was transferred to the Wild Cat Ranger Station near Trumbull, Arizona to survey the Para shoot Division of the forest. Woodbury assisted in building a ranger station and suitable home for his wife. Woodbury and his wife stayed at the lonely and desolate station until October 28 at which time they returned to St. George. Throughout November Woodbury was stationed in St. George but traveled throughout the forest patrolling and surveying.
27 May. "Obtained some grain and did various errands. Thence to St. George, gathering botanical specimens on the way."
18 June. "Went up on Pine Valley Mt. to examine cutting area of B. E. Slusser sale of electric light poles."
9 July. Woodbury and his wife arrived at their new station in Arizona to find a house with no doors, no windows, and no furniture. The well was poisoned with dead rats and all the grass was dried up. "Grace was very much disappointed in Wild Cat," Woodbury wrote.
13 July. After cleaning the house and building some furniture Woodbury, "saddled up two horses and rode with my wife east across the country to the edge of the Grand Canyon..." which gave a spectacular view of the surrounding area.
29 July. "Had a long talk with John Pymm. Said he believed that Sturzeneggar was branding too many long-ears and sometimes killed cattle that were not his own to sell to Grand Gulch Mine." The following day, Woodbury talked with John Sturzeneggar "regarding the grazing of stock on this district and the taking of long-ears."
3 August. "Chased some mustangs. First chase I was ever on."
9-10 August. Woodbury arbitrated a dispute over the digging of a well site near Wild Cat.
23 August-13 September. Woodbury returned temporarily to St. George to draft a map of the St. George Electric Company's power plant, and to prepare a report on agricultural settlement in the Dixie National Forest. On September 8 he attended a meeting in St. George of the Trumball stockmen and the forest supervisor to determine salting practices.
14 September-14 October. Survey of the Arizona Division of the Forest was undertaken. Woodbury took the opportunity, while surveying, to collect some insects and botanical specimens.
18-27 October. The survey continued with a trip to the Parashoot section of the Arizona Division.
30 October. Woodbury transferred from Arizona back to St. George.
9 November. "Hauled supplies necessary for the construction of the telephone line from S. Utah line to D.V.R.S. [Diamond Valley Ranger Station]."
14 November. J. A. Swapp was given a $120.00 contract by the Forest Service to plan and plant grain at the Diamond Valley Ranger Station.

Dates

1909 May 1-December 1

Conditions Governing Access

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