4 BULLETIN 1001, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



SUMMARY. 



CLIMATIC and other natural conditions so limit the 

 utilization of a large part of the area of the 11 West- 

 ern States that this area can not be used agriculturally for 

 anything but range grazing. Yet our land laws are such 

 that improvement in the use of the land for this purpose is 

 very difficult, while continued misuse of large areas of both 

 public and private grazing land is made, in effect, compul- 

 sory. This bulletin discusses the evils that arise in this 

 connection and the remedies that have been suggested. 



Extension of the homestead policy, by gradually increas- 

 ing the area that may be homesteaded, has not solved the 

 range problem, since that plan assumes the possibility of 

 substituting some more complex type of agricultural use for 

 the grazing industry that now occupies the land. Legisla- 

 tion which breaks up the use areas into holdings too small 

 for economic use results in loss to all concerned without 

 establishing a more productive industry than that now using 

 the land. The homesteading of lands which may be profit- 

 ably cultivated is a different matter; such lands are not 

 included in this study, which deals only with arid grazing 

 lands. 



Sale and exchange of restricted areas, while valuable as a 

 means of consolidating use areas, are at best but expedients 

 of local application. The issuance of lieu land scrip for 

 lands surrendered to the Government is of still more re- 

 stricted use, as a general policy. 



A leasing system, properly administered, has certain im- 

 portant advantages not possessed by any of the above- 

 mentioned methods of disposal. 



A permit system, like that now in operation in the national 

 forests (though not necessarily duplicating it), is probably 

 the best system yet devised. Such a system would prevent 

 the disruption of the existing industry, avoid the losses that 

 result from enlarging the homestead area, recognize the 

 equities of present users, giving proper adjustments of claims, 

 protect and encourage the industry for which the region is 

 adapted, set in motion a procedure that would automatically 

 but gradually reduce the size of all excessively large hold- 

 ings, and establish that individualized control of the lands 

 under competent supervision which is so necessary for the 

 further development of the live-stock industry on these arid 

 grazing lands. Not the least of the advantages of the permit 

 system lies in the fact that it does not of necessity interfere 

 with nor replace the existing land laws, but makes easier 

 the administration of these laws. 



