226 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



will deprive the honest home-builder of a just propor- 

 tion of the public range about the home he has built, 

 or is building, and you have sown in the heart of that 

 home and of every humble home in that community 

 the seeds of discontent and distrust and have gone one 

 step back toward anarchy. 



The discussion of this question cannot be limited 

 to the forest reserves ; and they tell us the land suitable 

 for the home-builder is all gone ; that there is no more 

 farming land and it is time the Government should 

 classify what is left, dispose of grazing lands for graz- 

 ing purposes, and "go out of the land business." No 

 statement could be more incorrect or misleading. We 

 are just beginning to learn the value and use of the 

 land of the West. 



Some years ago the founder of a great land and 

 stock company was driving with a boy through the 

 great San Joaquin Valley of California. They saw 

 a team plowing in the distance and drove on. After 

 courteous salutations, the conversation ran like this : 



"Are you preparing to put in a crop here?" 



"Yes." 



"What kind of a crop do you think you can raise 

 in this valley?" 



"Wheat." 



"How long have you been in this country?" 



"About three months." 



"I thought so." 



"Don't you think I can raise wheat here?" 



"I know you cannot." 



"How long have you been here?" 



"Thirty years." 



"I thought so." 



This is not a story created for the occasion. It is a 

 historical fact. The boy is one of the honored mem- 



