NATIONAL FOREST FINANCES 603 



free for uses where the use benefits the forest, or is of public charac- 

 ter, or connected with a paid industry, or where the use is cooperative. 

 "I have tried to answer your letter in detail by a simple arbitrary 

 pronouncement on the items, as I do not know how best to express 

 any answer in general terms. Needless to say, I do not feel that such 

 a pronouncement is in the least authoritative. I suppose there is 

 no more difficult field than the one of practical economic ethics." 



Does not this analysis of the more important policies governing 

 the disposal of natural resources drive home the necessity for full 

 appraised charges for commercial gracing? The main reason why 

 the Department of Agriculture does not act more aggressively seems 

 to be because of the political power of the western grazing organiza- 

 tions. The Forest Service as a whole is clearly in favor of further 

 increases ; but will it succeed in getting them ? The result of the fight 

 for full commercial rates will be regarded with interest by the friends 

 of forestry in the United States, because this is the fairest and easiest 

 li'ay to make the National Forest self-sustaining. 



It cannot be denied that a sincere fight for commercial rates for 

 commercial gracing is not without its risk. For example, if the right 

 to graze went to the highest bidder, zvithout restriction, the small man 

 might be crowded to the wall. For this reason suitable protection 

 should be accorded Class A permittees (small resident owners). This 

 is entirely feasible. It is fundamental to the wise use of the western 

 National Forests that nothing be done to restrict the settlement of 

 land chiefly valuable for agriculture. Even commercialized dollar 

 grazing cannot be allowed to interfere with the homestead — the "soul 

 of the West." With higher rates, the permittees may naturally expect 

 more range development at the expense of the Government. There 

 can be no objection to this; in fact, the costly development of water 

 and fencing by the live-stock company will in the end prove embar- 

 rassing. But even more intensive fencing can undoubtedly be arranged 

 without detriment to the settler with the efficient price generally at 

 the disposal of the Forester. The details can be thought out. 



When well-entrenched special privileges — such as the grazing indus- 

 try on National Forests, which those on the inside must know is in 

 many localities in the control of a few men — must make an organized 

 fight against higher rates, what will be their line of campaign? Who 

 can say? One method of defense is by attack. That we have learned 

 from the Prussians ! Probably one measure will be to show that there 



