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. 
