1904 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



479 



west of the looth meridian into the 

 semi-arid regions, it was found either 

 that 1 60 acres with water were worth a 

 great deal more, or that 160 acres with- 

 out water were worth vastly less than 

 that same area back in the Mississippi 

 Valley. 



The far greater value of irrigated 

 lands has been recognized and provided 

 for under the terms of the Newlands 

 act, and, according to the productive 

 capacity of the lands developed by the 

 Reclamation Service, the settler will be 

 granted a greater or less portion ade- 

 quate for his support. 



Continuing the application of the 

 idea, why should we not apportion 

 grazing ranges on precisely the same 

 principle, granting a sufficient acreage 

 for a sufficient time to afford the small 

 stockman the necessary territory to sup- 

 port the herd whose increase shall give 

 him a living income and protecting him 

 in his tenure for a sufficient length of 

 time to create an incentive for the main- 

 tenance and improvement of his range ? 



In Australia, from 1,280 to 40,000 

 acres of grazing lands, according to 

 quality, are thus leased, at rates propor- 

 tionate to value, for terms of from four- 

 teen to forty-two years. Many benefits 

 are experienced under these provisions. 

 Sheep and cattle wars are rendered im- 

 possible, since each interest is confined to 

 its own territory. Cooperative arrange- 

 ments are entered into extensively where 

 cooperation permits of more economical 

 management of large adjoining lease- 

 holds. Grazing leaseholds are operated 

 in connection with cultivated farms, and 



humane methods of handling stock are 

 rendered possible. 



SOME SUGGESTIONS. 



The operation of the grazing leasehold 

 plan implies the creation of a suitable 

 means for classifying grazing lands ac- 

 cording to their productive capacity, and 

 designating the various areas in different 

 districts which will support, without de- 

 struction of the range, the income-pro- 

 ducing herd of the small stockman. 



Proper provision for residence upon 

 and improvement of holdings should be 

 made, insuring good faith of occupants 

 and varying with conditions in different 

 districts. 



Cooperation should be recognized and 

 provided for in districts where the 

 sparseness of the range, the scarcity of 

 water, and the comparative costliness of 

 fencing makes it advisable for neighbors 

 to act jointly. 



Provision should be made for the re- 

 newal of a long-tenure lease by the orig- 

 inal holder, provided the land remains 

 purely grazing country; but in case of 

 possible artesian or irrigation develop- 

 ment provision should also be made for 

 throwing the leasehold open to more in- 

 tensive culture. 



On these and other concurrent lines, as 

 seems to have been demonstrated by the 

 Anglo-Saxon sheep and cattle men of 

 Australia, it should be possible to fulfill 

 the purpose of our public domain and 

 place upon it a maximum number of 

 American citizens secure in their rights 

 to sufficient territory to secure a living 

 for themselves. 



WOODS OF THE PHILIPPINES. 



BY 



EBER C. SMITH. 



IN a previous article, referring to the 

 forestry display by the Philippine 

 Islands at the World's Fair, the narra 

 wood was particularly described, it be- 

 longing to the superior group and first in 

 general use for fine furniture, doors, 



casing and flooring in the better-ap- 

 pointed dwellings. 



A number of slabs, finely polished, in 

 the Forestry Building and the handsome 

 tables in it and various other buildings 

 in the Philippine reservation are beauti- 



