Carlsbad current., 1899-12-02
On Western Interests.

Onice, Hon. Binger Hermann, In his on
cial annual report recommends the leasing
Of the public grazing lands. ne considers
| bis the only solution Of the range contro.
vef. 'ies. Mr.. Hermann represented the
state .of Oregon m the House of represent.
atyes Al, d is practically familiar with
Western con iltlons. iie Is also strongly
IN favor NJ t,'e Governments building
storage reservoirs.
"why should not IL Government enter
upon this line OF inertnll improvement
he Is represented as saying - a corFespon-
dent, "as well as to undertake any gFea'
work Of river or harbOr dredging W. heh Is
for the benefit Of the ua,lonS tits 10 m,
opinion national question, this deyel-
uping Of Western resources. ana the whole
nation would benefit by Il. believe IL Is
tho duty Of the national government 70
carry out these lmproments. They are al
most always Of the interstate character,
and the states are not qualified TO conduct
them. The gam Of the government Itself
would In tie end, be very large, for great
taxable wealth would 10 created, to endure
lor oil time to cc,ne, where now Is moth
Ing"
When asked whether he thought any
thing may be accomplished Ia the approach.
Ing Congress, he replied Eyes, undoubted.
~. Az any rate | thing some efforts Will
be made concerning the leasing Of the
grazing lands. That Is matter which
should be adjusted at once. A large reye-
nue. Is annually going 10 waste from the free
use Of these public lands 20 say nothing Of
the depreciation OF the lands through over
grazing, OF the fierce controversies arising
out OF their control. Leasing Is, In my
judgement entirely practicable, and IL
would insure the fencing OF the land, and
the Improvement Of iEspasturage."
The above proves what has been
itimaled by the press Of the arid sec.
tion for some time, that an effort'wlll
be made 70 create an immense pas
,ure for some giant corporation, OF
oil the arid lands Ia the west. Then
u ranch, such as the syndicate OF the
Panhandle holds will be no compari.
sen. No small western town can ex.
ist for whole counties will be- prac.
ticaliy owned by one company and
conducted In the way the syndicate
pasture OF 100 by 200 miles m Texas is
handled. What would be the result
q this lease law, as advocated by Mr
IermannY Any man might lease an
the land east OF the river ia Eddy
county and fence IL In. lie could
then ship IN hiss supplies aud the
small stock owner and merchant
would go While this may be taken
as an extreme view, the matter pres
ents no impossible features.
The only solution OF the arid land
problem is q regular homestead Law
such IS we have u present with the
exception that the amount OF land
be increased from 100 10 $40 acres for II
Is as difficult tn exist on a6lOacre tract
west OF the hundredth meridian as II
Is on a lGO acre tract east OF that line
The $40 acre homestead lnw should
be made 10 apply 20 all lands west Of
the hundredth meridian. Nearly al
the good lands tor some distance wes
OF that line have already been takeI
under the present homestead law, b,
the new law would only apply to un
desirable land for some distance wea
OF that line.
Any person with the hardhood 10 x
out and reside on the prairle land
should possess az least $40 acres anl
Ia the arid west this amount Is non
too large 70 sustain family eyel
though Il Is competent Of carrying 10
head OF cattle, with well or tauI
for conserving storm waters and
clstern FOE house use, home may b
made on o section OF arid land, Tn
land should be kept out Of the hand
Of cattle kings, or there will shortl
il. bee large clnsa Of hnrnns aud clas
. of Npffs in this cOuutrV