IMPROVEMENT IN RANGE CONDITIONS 



111 



LARGE PARK IN WESTERN YELLOW PINE TYPE, SHOWING GRAZING POSSIBILITIES. 



dition of these ranges could be relieved 

 by the transfer of stock to other ranges 

 and also to find out to what extent the 

 damage could be checked by better 

 management of the stock. A splendid 

 opportunity was thus offered for con- 

 structive work which would be of real 

 substantial benefit. It was a task not 

 alone for the Forest Service, but also 

 for the stockmen, and how well it has 

 been done is shown by the results. 



COOPERATION OF STOCKMEN INVITED. 



Right in the beginning the Forest 

 Service invited the cooperation of the 

 stockmen and consulted with them 

 regarding the practicability of the plans 

 which were to be adopted. While it 

 was not always possible to agree, there 

 was generally a mutually advantageous 

 settlement of all questions involved and 

 most important of all, there grew up a 

 feeling among the stockmen that the 

 government desired to help bring about 

 a more stable condition of their in- 

 dustry. 



The greatest amount of damage on 

 overgrazed ranges was due to the fact 

 that prior to the inclusion of these 

 lands within the National Forests there 

 was no legal authority for their con- 

 trol. This usually meant that the feed 

 belonged to the man who got his stock 



on the land first. There was no way, 

 however, except physical force, by which 

 he could hold the feed and prevent 

 others from sharing in its use. Under 

 this system numbers of stock largely in 

 excess of the capacity of the lands were 

 grazed upon them and with little 

 thought or care except to get what there 

 was while it lasted. It was natural that 

 this condition should lead to serious 

 controversy, and out of it grew many 

 range wars which often resulted in great 

 loss to life and property. These de- 

 plorable conditions have been removed 

 on the lands which were included within 

 the National Forests, for the simple 

 reason that an authoritative means 

 of control has been afforded under 

 which right instead or might prevails. 

 Had nothing else been accomplished, 

 the removal of this one evil has made 

 the work worth while. 



As an orderly use of the range was 

 being brought about, an effort was made 

 to divide the range fairly between the 

 different kinds of stock and the different 

 owners. The stockmen were called 

 together in meetings and so far as 

 possible all questions were settled by 

 mutual agreement, the government mak- 

 ing arbitrary decisions only in cases 

 where the stockmen could not agree 

 among themselves or where it appeared 



