332 GRAZING INDICATORS. 



the President of the United States is hereby authorized to establish from time 

 to time, by proclamation, grazing districts upon the unreserved, unappropri- 

 ated public lands of the United States, conforming to State and county lines 

 so far as practicable, whereupon the Secretary of Agriculture, under rules 

 and regulations prescribed by him, shall execute or cause to be executed the 

 provisions of this Act, appoint all officers necessary for the administration and 

 protection of such grazing districts, regulate their use for grazing purposes, 

 protect them from depredation, froni injury to the natural forage crop, and 

 from erosion; restore and improve their grazing value through regulation, by 

 the eradication of poisonous plants, and by the extermination of predatory 

 animals and otherwise; eradicate and prevent infectious and contagious dis- 

 eases injurious to domestic animals; issue permits to graze live stock thereon 

 for periods of not more than ten years, which shall include the right to fence 

 the same, giving preference when practicable to homesteaders and to present 

 occupants of the range who own improved ranches or who have provided 

 water for live stock grazed on the public lands; and charge and collect reason- 

 able fees for such grazing permits, based upon the grazing value of the land 

 in each locaUty: Provided, That for ten years after the passage of this Act 

 such charge for grazing shall not exceed four cents per acre nor be less than 

 one-half cent per acre, or the equivalent thereof on a per-capita basis, and the 

 Secretary of Agriculture shall revise and reestablish maximum and minimum 

 rates of charge for grazing for each succeeding period of ten years. 



Section 2. That homestead or other settlement, location, entry, patent 

 and all other disposal of public lands under the public-land laws shall be in no 

 wise restricted, Umited, or abridged hereby; nor shall anything herein be 

 construed to prevent bona fide settlers or residents from grazing their stock 

 used for domestic purposes, as defined under the regulations of the Secretary 

 of Agriculture, on the public lands affected hereby : Provided, That after the 

 establishment of any such grazing district no form of location, settlement, or 

 entry thereon shall give a right to grazing privileges on public lands except 

 when made under laws requiring cultivation or agricultural use of the land: 

 Provided further, That permits to graze live stock upon land which is subse- 

 quently appropriated under any public-land law shall not be affected by such 

 subsequent appropriation, except as to the land actually appropriated, until 

 the end of the current annual grazing period: Provided further. That no 

 permit shall be issued which will entitle the permittee to the use of any build- 

 ings, corrals, reservoirs, or other improvements owned or controlled by a prior 

 occupant until he has paid such prior occupant a reasonable pro rata value 

 for the use of such improvements. If the parties interested can not agree, 

 then the amount of such payment shall be determined under rules of the Secre- 

 tary of Agriculture: And provided further, That when buildings, corrals, reser- 

 voirs, wells, or other improvements, except fences, shall have been established 

 on any forty-acre tract to the value of more than $100, as determined by rules 

 of the Secretary of Agriculture, such forty-acre tract shall not be subject to 

 settlement or appropriation under the public-land laws during the permit 

 period without the consent of the owner of such buildings, corrals, reservoirs, 

 wells, or other improvements. 



Sec. 3. That all water on public lands or subject to the jurisdiction of the 

 United States within such grazing districts may be used for milling, mining, 

 domestic, or irrigation purposes under the laws of the State or Territory 

 wherein such grazing districts are situated, or under the laws of the United 

 States and the rules and regulations thereunder. 



Sec. 4. That no grazing permits issued under this Act shall prohibit settlers, 

 prospectors, and others from entering upon such grazing districts for all proper 



