GRAZING LEASES IN AUSTRALASIA 



By A. C. VEATCH T 

 United States Geological Survey 



WHEN the United States had go back beyond the time when a prac- 



but one white man to every ticable route was discovered through 



10,000 square miles of terri- the Asutralian Blue Ridge Ranges, and 



tory, the matter of grazing on the the great grazing region of Australia 



public lands was one of little impor- discovered. Prior to that time the set- 



tance, but as the population increased tiers had occupied a narrow ribbon 



and herds of cattle and flocks of sheep along the eastern shores of Australia, 



did likewise, each man desired for his limited on the east by the sea and on 



stock the choicest of the range. As the west by a formidable range of 



the range was theoretically the prop- mountains. When this passage was 



erty of every man, it soon became for finally discovered, adventurous spirits 



practical purposes the property of the sought the new country away from the 



man strong enough to hold it by force, restraining government influences, and 



This inevitably led to the "stock wars" initiated the long line of Australian 



which have disgraced many parts of the squatters; just about the same time sim- 



West, where one man or group of men ilar spirits began the settlement of the 



fixed an arbitrary line, to cross which great sheep-producing region of Amer- 



meant not only the destruction of the ica. This country in Australia, west of 



stock of the offender, but in many in- the Blue Ridge Range, was, as in the 



stances his life. Everywhere every man case of the American sheep country, a 



tried to crowd out the other fellow, semi-arid region, but, by reason of its 



and each man, feeling insecure as to the natural grasses, well adapted to sheep 



future, endeavored to get all the feed growing, and in a few years the whole 



from the range. The result was over- range was covered with sheep. The 



grazing, and in many places lands that first comers parceled this country 



had formerly produced grass several amongst themselves and informed the 



feet high were stripped. new comers that the range was theirs 



These conditions have led many by right of possession. Attempts were 



thinking men to feel that the time has repeatedly made on the part of the gov- 



arrived when there should be no "free eminent to initiate a system of leasing 



range," but that all grazing on public from which a proper revenue would be 



lands should be done under grazing per- obtained, but without avail. The mini- 



mits or leases. In Australia there has mum price of land in New South Wales 



been the same development, only in at this time was about $5 per acre, and 



Australia they have quit talking about when an attempt was made in the legis- 



government grazing leases on public lative assembly to reduce it, the sheep 



lands and have exhaustively tried this men, by this time wealthy and of great 



system. influence, opposed it with all their 



Our consideration of the matter of strength. When the price of the land 



grazing leases in Australasia need not was finally reduced and people could 



J Mr. Veatch was appointed by President Roosevelt as special commissioner to investigate 

 the laws of the Australasian states relative to the leasing of mineral lands, and _ spent six 

 months in Australia in 1908-9. Opportunity was thus afforded for incidentally investigat- 

 ing the general subject of land administration in the Australasian states. 



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