AMERICAN FOREST CONGRESS 217 



that the number of fires starting from camp fires left 

 by stockmen or for which stockmen are in any way 

 responsible has decreased from year to year, and also 

 that the stockmen have been the most willing volun- 

 teers and rendered the most effective service wherever 

 assistance was needed in fighting forest fires starting 

 from any cause. On account of their presence on the 

 ground, so that service could be rendered on short 

 notice, stockmen have greatly assisted the forest reserve 

 officers in saving large areas of timber from destruction 

 by fire. It seems fair to say that one of the practical 

 results of the regulation of grazing has been the estab- 

 lishment of a strong and effective volunteer fire 

 service. 



The stockman has learned from experience that 

 forest reserve protection of the summer ranges means 

 an improvement in the condition of his stock and an 

 increase in the profits of his business. During the 

 past season when stock in many range sections suffered 

 severely on account of lack of food and water, those 

 who were fortunate enough to have pasturing privi- 

 leges in the forest reserves were able to get their stock 

 fat. While many of the outside stock on overcrowded 

 ranged remained thin in flesh, the result being that the 

 stock pastured on the forest reserves were in better 

 demand and sold for more money than those from the 

 outside ranges. 



As the policy of the Government becomes better 

 understood and the benefits to be derived from judi- 

 cious management of the grazing land is shown by 

 practical demonstration, the opposition of the stockmen 

 to the creation of forest reserves will be entirely 

 removed and they will cooperate with the Government 

 in the proper regulation of grazing and the permanent 

 improvement of the ranges. 



