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 u 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 7 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. 
* 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. 
