190 Forestry Quarterly 



uses. There is some justification, to be sure, for special rates in 

 the fees of some special uses, but the writer has consistently 

 favored higher rental rates for stores, pastures, roadhouses, re- 

 sorts, as well as for all other purely commercial rentals. Today, 

 rental prices are from 1/2 to 1/10 below the market value. The 

 sole justification seems to be the desire of the Forest Service to 

 curry favor with the small man. 



This certainly is not necessary in carrying out such a policy 

 as regards grazing. Is not the large man favored also? Is this 

 fair, considering the timber-sale policy of appraising at the full 

 market value? The present grazing fees are the strongest illus- 

 tration of the variance of the commercial policy of the Forest 

 Service. 



Another reason for the deficit is the amount of free use. 

 There is said to be some danger of creating permanent rights and 

 servitudes such as arose in the Middle Ages in Europe from the 

 free use of wood for fuel. There the conditions were different. 

 There was a peasant and servitor class, dependent upon the 

 feudal lords for gratuities. The hardy western settler can hardly 

 be thus classed. He is independent and resourceful. So, per- 

 haps, the best solution is to abolish free grazing and free timber, 

 although the real danger of servitude may be largely theoretical. 

 Congress has already provided for the sale of timber at cost to 

 agriculturists. Grazing fees are already low, and even if in- 

 creased (as they should be) it is believed the settler can afford 

 to pay them. If, however, it is desired to assist the small 

 grazer, why not give the large man the same privilege? Still 

 another alternative (if free use is abolished) might be to base 

 the grazing fees for the small local resident (say up to 50 head of 

 cattle or its equivalent) on the cost of grazing administration 

 (as is granted the wood-user for timber at cost by congressional 

 law). At all events, the policy ought to be made uniform for the 

 disposal of all resources. 



The small man, at present, is favored by Regulation G-5, which 

 reads, in part : 



"Milch or work animals not exceeding a total of ten head, 

 owned and in use by bona fide settlers residing in or near a 

 National Forest, require no permit . . ." 



