286 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



June 



Happily, these restrictions have thus 

 far met with general approval. 



From the first, the importance of fit- 

 ting the regulations to local conditions 

 has been recognized. Rules occasion- 

 ing needless hardship to stockmen 

 have been modified, and emergencies 

 demanding instant action have been 

 promptly met. 



When a new reserve has been pro- 

 claimed all stock grazing upon it is al- 

 lowed to remain during the first year ; 

 if, afterwards, this number is found to 

 be too great for the resources of the 

 range, it is gradually reduced. Stock- 

 men are aided in effecting a satisfac- 

 tory distribution of their stock upon 

 the range and in securing from it the 

 most profitable and permanent use. 

 Small stock owners living in the vicin- 

 ity of the reserves are given such pref- 

 erence in the allotment of grazing 

 privileges as will protect their inter- 

 ests. First occupants of the range and 

 farmers owning improved lands adja- 

 cent are also preferred. The rights of 

 large owners based upon the range cus- 

 tom of the past are recognizd, and re- 

 ductions in the number of their stock 

 are required only when necessary to 

 protect the range or the grazing rights 

 of bona fide settlers. 



Necessary range divisions between 

 owners of different kinds of stock are 

 made, and controversy between sheep- 

 men and cattlemen is promptly ended. 

 Where necessary, the construction of 

 drift or division fences is also allowed, 

 provided the area fenced is not great- 

 er than the needs of the stock owner. 



Outside the forest reserves, how- 

 ever, is an area of public land, esti- 

 mated at 400,000,000 acres, which has 

 no present value except for grazing 

 purposes. On this land grazing, is 

 wholly unrestrained by law. Commer- 

 cial interests, great and small, have 

 competed for its use, and the result 

 has been abuse of the range. Millions 

 of acres have been recklessly over- 

 grazed and practically ruined. In his 

 last annual message the President 

 says : "It is probable that the present 

 giazing value of the open public range 

 is scarcely more than half what it once 

 was or what it might easily be again 

 under careful regulation." Some stock- 



men have, to the exclusion of others, 

 possessed themselves of the strategic 

 positions that is, the lands control- 

 ling the streams, springs, and other 

 watering places, and by this means 

 have secured temporary control of the 

 adjoining grazing lands. Charges of 

 fraudulent entry have led to litigation. 

 Great areas have been illegally fenced. 

 Again, stock owners, notably sheep 

 and cattlemen, have defended their 

 conflicting claims by force of arms, 

 causing serious loss of property and 

 even of life. 



Obviously such conditions should 

 be corrected by law. The remedy 

 would seem to be to apply to the open 

 public range the regulations already 

 governing the forest reserves. This 

 conclusion is strengthened not only 

 by the success attending the forest- 

 reserves policy, but also by the effect 

 of fencing the public grazing lands. 

 Though illegal, this fencing has in 

 most cases greatly improved the con- 

 dition of the area inclosed. Care, how- 

 ever, must be taken to avoid the ap- 

 plication of sweeping and ironclad 

 regulations to an area so vast and to 

 conditions so different. The investi- 

 gations of the Public Lands Commis- 

 sion show that immediate application 

 of any inflexible rule to all grazing 

 lands alike, regardless of local condi- 

 tions or grazing values, would be dis- 

 astrous, and that improvement must 

 be sought through the gradual intro- 

 duction into each locality of such form 

 of control as is specifically suited to it. 



In his message, already referred to, 

 the President says : 



"The best use of the public grazing 

 lands requires the careful examination 

 and classification of these lands in 

 order to give each settler land enough 

 to support his family and no more. 

 While this work is being done, and 

 until the lands are settled, the Govern- 

 ment should take control of the open 

 range, under reasonable regulations 

 suited to local needs, following the 

 general policy already in successful 

 operation on the forest reserves." 



Should the policy thus suggested be 

 established by law great good would 

 undoubtedly result. 



