FOREST PRESERVATION AND NATIONAL PROSPERITY. 23 



management, fire, or recklessness in any manner, damages all. The 

 conflicts between cattle and sheep interests are the clashing of indi- 

 vidual interests and not of the two industries. If the individuals 

 can be brought together and calmly talk their differences over, 90 

 per cent of such evils Avill disappear. 



* * * The public lands of the West are rapidly filling with real 

 home builders, and the large ranges outside of the Mexican land 

 grants and private holdings, must be given up to the use of the set- 

 tlers. We whose stock feed in large pastures and cover large areas 

 of public land must gradually give way to the smaller home builder. 



A. F. POTTEE, 



Bureau of Forestry. 



The Government realizes the importance of the livestock industry 

 to the prosperity of the Western Commonwealths, and the fact that 

 a very large proportion of the people are directly dependent upon it 

 for the support of their homes. The great economic value of the for- 

 age products of the forest reserves is also realized, and an effort has 

 been made to use this resource in the way which appears to be best for 

 the interests of all concerned. Care has been taken in the preparation 

 and enforcement of grazing regulations to avoid, as far as possible, 

 any unnecessary disturbance of business by sudden changes in the 

 manner of using the grazing lands. An effort has also been made to 

 fit the regulations to the actual needs of the reserves, and to allow 

 every privilege consistent Avith their proper care and management. 



In the settlement of questions concerning the use of products of the 

 reserves, all of the different interests must be recognized and consid- 

 ered. The stockmen must not expect to be allowed to use the grazing 

 land in a way which would be seriously detrimental to the interests of 

 the farmer depending upon the water supply from the reserve for 

 irrigation, or in a way which would destroy the forest growth. The 

 lumbermen must also consider these interests and the future welfare 

 of the country, and be willing to cut and handle the timber in a way 

 which will insure a continued growth of the forest, and the farmer 

 must not expect the Government to entirely stop the grazing of live 

 stock or the cutting of timber, but must be content to have these 

 things done under a proper system of regulation. 



* * * The stockman has learned from experience that forest reserve 

 protection of the summer ranges means an improvement in the con- 

 dition of his stock and an increase in the profits of his business. Dur- 

 ing the past season, when stock in many range sections suffered 

 severely on account of lack of food and water, those who were for- 

 tunate enough to have pasturing privileges in the forest reserves were 

 able to get their stock fat, while many of the outside stock on over- 



