Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-30

utilization OF public lands. Are we pre-
pared 10 say they are wrong?
The next national irrigation
congress will be held II
Chicago and the power Of tn,
Chicago press will have to be consld
cred after that Western newspaper
have recently given more than usua
! space TO the discussion concerning tn
land bills recently presented In Con
| gress.
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.
The secretary OF agriculture recon
meBds leasing system. and IN supper
Of his recommendation says:
~ have looked carefully into the con
dltlons OF the ranges IN most OF th'
States west OF the Missouri river. Tit
| department Of agriculture has beef
| conducting experiments In most 81
these States with native and imported
grasses through the experiment sta
tons private individuals and some
times under the direct management Of
| It's own officers. Injudiclous grazing
hes greatly impaired the capacity OF
| the ranges TO produce meats. Careful
inquiry shows that In many cases the
ranges do not support more than hall
the meat-bearing animals they did ter
years ago. These ranges have been
overlooked, the grasses have been
eaten bare and pulled out by the roots
where formerly nutritious grass sup
ported n large number OF animals, there
is now left nothing but a desert OF
drifting sand.
'The principal reason for this condi-
ton OF the ranges is undoubtedly that
no single individual has an interest in
any one part Of the public domain. The
object Of the flockmaster is 10 secure all
the grass possible, irrespective Of the
effect II may have on the future condi-
ton of the pasture. Thousands Of sheep
that cannot find grazing on the plains
are being taken into the innermost re-
cesses Of the mountain systems.
1T would seem wise 70 inaugurate a
more sensible policy regarding these
public grazing lands, They should be
rented to individuals IN sufficiently
large areas and for a sufficiently long
time 10 induce the lessees to give atten-
ton TO their improvement. The title
should remain In the United States, so
that the hOmesteader might have an OPP
portunity, under such conditions as
would not interfere with the renting, 10
make settlement whenever practicable
The rents arising from these leases
might very well be given TO the States
for such uses as they might deem WISE
either for educational purposes or for
Irrigation work. A very considerable
amount Of money would come every
year from these leases. with which the
States could begin experimentation in
the way Of building dams and holding
the water against time Of need My
main object in making this recommend.
alton Ia that the lessee and the depart
ment Of agriculture may enter into CO.
operative experimentation looking TO
the improvement Of the grazing lands.
POSSIBILITIES OF ARID PLAINS.
Will this convention call the secretary
OF agriculture either a liar or a fool?
The secretary OF the interior refer
ring to the possibilities OF the arid
plains, says
That this vast acreage. capable OF
sustaining and comfortably supporting
under proper system Of irrigation a
population Of at least 5O,0O0OO0 people,
should remaip practically a desert is
not in harmony with the progressive
spirit OF the age or in keeping with the
possibilities of the future"
Is not that polite way OF saying
that the men Of the West are not using
to the best advantage the brains God
gave them, but are allowing their self
ishness to block the path Of progressY
And Is he not dead right? N.
But more than general Indications OF
a change may be noted In political cir.
cles. Many OF the registers and receiy-
ers OF the land Offices in the arid dis.
rlcts have poor picking. Their offices do
not pay and they are beginning to see
the way out Of the woods. IL the pub
lie grazing lands are leased the United
states land offices will pay better, more
clerks and special agents will be need.
ed In Washington and In the West.
Patriotic politicians are usually on hand
to serve their country, and as oppor-
tuniiies are presented 10 members OF
Congress they in turn Will be willing TO
please their constituents, and who will
blame them?
The fact that the public land States
have application for leases Of more land
than they now own may be used as an
unanswerable argument In favor OF ad.
ditlonal grants or direct leasing by the
general government
LEASING OPERATIONS SUCCESS
Full
Leasing operations by the State land
boards have generally been successful
and small stockmen have not been
frozen out as some people pretend 10
believe, but even the small stockman
who thinks all plans for improving con-
dltlons are simply schemes TO throw
him down, ought 10 be in favor OF def
mite actlcn by this cOnvention--for IL
his claims are correct, and forces cam
not be put In motion here 10 help him, |
he Is likely to get lost In the shuttle.
The fact that many have heretofore |
opposed all leasing propositions because |
they fear the plans proposed. does not |
prove either that they would oppose |
some better plan or that II they got to- |
yether and tried they could not get up |
1 good scheme which would satisfy a |
majority Of all concerned
The opposition Is so strong TO state |
'ession that II Is not worth while 10 /
more than refer 10 the question-stOck- |
men generally are afraid Of II They |
'ay the States handle the lands they |
low have for revenue purposes only, |
md there Is no assurance that the rest
would be handled on any other basis:
hat State legislatures would not act
,ither promptly or intelligently on
providing reservoir construc-
ion. and that the people OF the State