TENURE AND USE OF ARID GRAZING LANDS. 39 



range is naturally about as poor as any of the arid grazing land in the 

 State [79]. The losses are almost negligible, compared with those sus- 

 tained by herds on the immediately surrounding open ranges, and 

 show only nominal increase during the years of drought. Of course 

 these results are to be attributed to good management, but good 

 management is largely dependent on the power to control the use 

 of the range. 



Some suggestive results of experience. — Among the men interviewed 

 in Arizona and New Mexico, previously referred to, were two cattle- 

 men who have been in the business in that region for many years. 17 

 Their experience is highly suggestive; it is the same as that of many 

 other men operating fenced ranges. Both are very careful in their 

 statements. Each had succeeded in getting control of what is 

 ordinarily considered a not very large ranch for that region. Each 

 of these men stated that instead of deteriorating, their ranges had 

 actually improved during the drought. One of them said he had 

 made more money from the fenced range than he had previously 

 made from twice the area before it was fenced. The next neighbor 

 of the other had been compelled to take all his stock off his unfenced 

 range to keep them from dying, yet the increase in feed on the fenced 

 range during 1917 had saved about $2,000 on the feed bill, and 

 rendered feeding unnecessary in 1918. Such results as these are 

 only possible on fenced ranges." 



Advantages to sheepmen. — It may be objected that most, if not all, 

 of the arguments so far presented apply only to the production of 

 range cattle; that sheep get along on open ranges much better than 

 on inclosed ones; that in order to utilize to the fullest the summer 

 feed of the high mountains, sheep must be used in traveling bands, 

 and that areas of winter feed with connecting driveways must be 

 reserved for such animals; that such a method of management is 

 the most effective and least expensive; that if the fencing up of 

 separate holdings be allowed many sheepmen will be forced out of 

 business, and that we as a nation will be compelled to depend upon 

 other nations for our wool and mutton. 



No one knows better the effects of the " tramp " band of sheep than 

 the sheepman, because he has suffered from these effects himself 

 very frequently. And no one has profited quite so satisfactorily by 

 the grazing policy applied in the National Forests as the so-called 

 " small sheepman." 



Many sheepmen are strongly in favor of a subdivision of the range 

 because they know by their own experience that they could carry on 

 their business much better on a controlled range. Many of them are 

 acquiring land and other equities as rapidly, as possible. Some of 



!' Mr. Frank F. Moore, member of State Cattle Sanitary Board of Arizona, Mr. J. H. McCamant, sheriff 

 of McKinley Co., New Mexico, and vice president of the New Mexico Cattle and Horse Growers' Association. 



