investment in thie resource base 



Privatization of ttie public lands is being suggested 

 as an alternative to ttie present federal control Priva- 

 tization, recognizing the existing private and state 

 rigtits on ttie public lands, could be the most viable 

 alternative of all History and numerous studies have 

 demonstrated that public control of natural resources 

 is the most inefficient use of these resources Private 

 control stimulates the most efficient use of resources. 



CONCLUSION 



We have suggested three main points in our 

 discussion 



1 The public rangelands of the West are very 

 energy efficient for food production. 



2. Livestock grazing makes a major contribution to 

 our nation's economy, 



3. Continued federal control of our public range- 

 lands threatens the viability of efficient food pro- 

 duction from those lands 



The federal land management agencies argue that 

 their continued existence is justified by virtue of the 

 need to protect other multiple use values on the public 

 lands, such as watershed, historical sites and wildlife 

 There are none of these values that are not already 

 being provided for, or could readily be provided for, 

 by state and private interests 



It is logical to conclude, given the growing world 

 population, population shifts from east to west, the 

 growing energy crisis and potential food shortages 

 that the resource riches of the public lands of the 

 West will be developed 



The real question is will they be developed under a 

 system of private enterprise or under a system of fed- 

 eral government control 



48 



