TENURE AND USE OF ARID GRAZING LANDS. 3 



of unified opinion as to what should be done. While local differences 

 in the changes needed have been partly responsible for this condi- 

 tion, the main cause has been the fear that any changes might be 

 unfavorable to them individually. Such conditions are now largely 

 past, and opinion among the stockmen is becoming very definite. 

 They know what is desirable and why it is necessary and are taking 

 steps to inform the public. 4 



As an illustration of the results of the present system of land 

 tenure in a specified region, extracts (with maps) from an unpub- 

 lished report to the Secretary of Agriculture on "An Investigation of 

 Conditions of the Grazing Land Lying within the Limits of the 

 Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Land Grant" 5 are included in this 

 bulletin. These extracts show (1) the character and distribution of 

 the principal range plant associations which form the range stock 

 feed of Arizona and New Mexico, (2) the character of the present 

 legal tenure of the land within the boundaries of the Atlantic and 

 Pacific Railroad Land Grant, (3) some data on the effects of the 

 drought of 1917-18 in Arizona and New Mexico, with (4) a summary 

 of the experience and opinions of some stockmen of that region. It 

 must be understood that every region has its own plant associations 

 which constitute the native forage crop, some of which are better 

 and some poorer than those shown for New Mexico and Arizona; 

 that the land tenure condition shown in the maps (figs. 3, 4, and 5) 

 is about as complex as any that exists in the arid region; and that 

 the drought of 1917-18 in Arizona and New Mexico was really not 

 very severe nor long continued as compared with others that have 

 occurred in that region. While a single concrete case taken from 

 any region can not illustrate all the factors that must be recognized 

 in a consideration of the whole problem, the most important factors 

 are here presented with the force of a statement of actual fact in 

 support of the conclusions reached. The area examined is so large 

 that the conclusions reached are believed to possess great weight. 



THE REGION. 



The area to which the following generalizations directly apply is 

 that part of the arid Southwest included in Arizona and New Mexico. 



4 In presenting the ideas contained in this bulletin it will be necessary repeatedly to point out how this 

 or that affects the range stock raising industry and stockmen. This continual reference arises from the 

 fact, already stated, that the land will not sustain any other form of agricultural industry. Wherever 

 this statement does not apply, the land is not arid grazing land in the sense in which the expression is 

 here used. No attempt is made here to discuss dry farming conditions and practices. Though stock be 

 grazed upon native grass pastures on such farms, stock raising is but one of the enterprises on what are 

 essentially farms. The lands referred to in this bulletin are range grazing lands upon which the raising 

 of stock is the only enterprise possible. (See page 7.) 



5 An investigation and report made by E. O. Wooton of the Office of Farm Management and Farm 

 Economics, and Robert R. Hill, Grazing Examiner of the Forest Service, in 1919. During 1917 and 1918 

 a drought occurred in New Mexico and Arizona which resulted in a greatly diminished output of meat 

 animals. The investigation was made to ascertain what might be done to reduce the consequent losses 

 to a minimum and to prevent, as far as possible, a recurrence of such conditions. 



