I 



HOSTILITY TO NATIONAL FORESTS 263 



Mondell claimed that thorough grazing of the forest reserves was the 

 best of all safeguards against the spread of forest fires, and that the 

 Forest Service, by interfering with grazing, had actually in some 

 cases increased the fire hazard. His theory was that under the manage- 

 ment of the forest reserves previous to 1910, the grasses grew year 

 after year, died, and finally formed a mat through which fire, under a 



twind, ran with great rapidity/* 

 Doubtless there has been occasional justification for the criticism 

 of the management of grazing lands, but in general the control of 

 such lands by the Forest Service has resulted in a great improvement 

 in range conditions. Previously, overstocking had caused the destruc- 

 tion of some ranges, and in many regions a decrease in carrying capac- 

 »ity. Perhaps the greatest evil was the "transient" or "tramp" herds 

 of sheep, usually bands of sheep being driven from distant ranges to 

 points of shipment, or being driven between summer and winter ranges, 

 J^ which were often long distances apart and sometimes located in differ- 

 I^Pent states. These bands just drifted around in search of good feeding 

 grounds and camped wherever Such areas were found, often grazing 

 the land far too close. This and other evils the Forest Service has now 



I under fair control. The criticism that the Forest Service has favored 

 the large cattlemen and sheepmen has certainly not been valid. The 

 policy of the service has been to favor the smaller owners. It was once 

 explained in Congress that, in disagreements between the stockmen 

 and the Forest Service, the wealthier stockmen could hire adequate 

 counsel to look after their business, and were less likely to cherish any 

 grievance; but the Forest Service has tried to promote the organiza- 

 tion of local livestock associations, and through these associations the 

 smaller owners are able to secure somewhat the same service as the 

 larger owners. These associations assist, not only in the settlement of 

 disputes, but in the salting of stock, in the improvement of breeds of 

 cattle, and in many other ways. One of the great advantages arising 

 from government control of ranges has been the prevention of the 

 range "wars" — the quarrels among grazers, particularly the deadly 

 feuds that were waged between the sheepmen and the cattlemen. ^° 

 As to what is really the attitude of the majority of the stockmen 



" Cong. Rec, Feb. 2, 1911, 1855. 

 ^5 Forest Bui. 63, 1905, p. 17. 



