FOREST POLICY. 



99 



Heavy fines are imposed on the firing of vacant public wood- 

 lands ; but there exists no staff enforcing compliance with the law. 



The vacant public lands are, theoretically, open commons, 

 free to all citizens; as a matter of fact, however, a large portion 

 have been parceled out by more or less definite private compacts, 

 among various interests. On the grazing lands, the sheep-men 

 and the cattle-men are in frequent collision on account of in- 

 cursions upon each other's "domains". The general lack of 

 control in the use of public grazing lands has resulted naturally 

 and inevitably in over-grazing (Report of Public Lands Com- 

 mission). 



The National Consei*\'ation Commission states: 



"The public range of the western States is estimated to be 

 300 million acres in area. Upon this range it is estimated that 

 there are 50 million cattle and 40 million sheep. The range 

 is in very bad condition, especially that part occupied by 

 sheep, owing to overgrazing and trampling. These bad con- 

 ditions can be remedied by an assumption of control over the 

 range by its owner, the United States, and the portioning out 

 of it to stock-ranges individually. This asset of the country has 

 been misused and wasted almost as criminally as the forests." 



The Public Lands Commission recommends that suitable au- 

 thority be given to the President to set aside by proclamation 

 certain grazing districts ; such districts to be used permanently 

 under the control of the Department of Agriculture. 



Lands of special value for definite purposes (coal lands, water- 

 power sites, irrigation projects) may be withdrawn from entry 

 (Public Lands Withdrawal Act of 1910). 



The gross receipts by the General Land Office for public lands 

 sold and for fees and commissions collected (on public lands 

 disposed of othenx'ise than for cash) have averaged $6,000,000 

 per annum, since 1885. 



On an annual average, 15,000,000 acres of vacant public land 

 are being patented, the title being taken out of the United States. 



