200 OUR NATIONAL FORESTS 



THE RENTAL OF NATIONAL FOREST RANGE LANDS 



The forage crop on the National Forests is for 

 the use of the sheep and cattle of the western stock- 

 men and it is procured by means of grazing per- 

 mits which are issued and charged for upon a per 

 capita basis. The primary objects of the adminis- 

 tration of government grazing lands are: the pro- 

 tection and conservative use of all National Forest 

 land adapted to grazing; the permanent good of 

 the live stock industry through the proper care and 

 use of grazing lands ; and the protection of the set- 

 tler and home builder against unfair competition 

 in the use of the range. 



Importance of the Live Stock Industry. The 

 grazing business, more than any other feature of 

 National Forest management, is immensely prac- 

 tical, because it is immediately concerned with hu- 

 man interests. This industry furnishes not only 

 meat, but leather, wool, and many by-products. 



That the National Forests play a big part in the 

 maintenance of this industry there can be little 

 doubt, for it has been estimated recently that 30 

 per cent, of the sheep and 20 per cent, of the cattle 

 of the far Western States are grazed in the Na- 



