Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-06-19
GRAZING QUESTION
An Investigation of Grazing On
Forest Reserves In Arizona and
New Mexico,
MANY POINTS TO Be DECIDED
Questions That Will Be Asked-Giford
Pinchot In Charge Of the Investigation
The Interior Department Takes
An Impartial Position.

The investigation Of the question of
grazing in forest reserves has been be-
gun by Mr.. Clifford Pinchot, forester
and Mr.. Coville, the botanist, of the de
partment Of agriculture, who a.e now
studying the conditions in Arizona,
About July l the work will be extended
to the Big Horn, Washington, Mount
Rainier, Uintah, Gila River and the
Yellowstone Park timber lane reset yes,
and to those in the Sierras and in south
ern California. The letter of instruc-
lions which has been issued to the field
agents indicates the spirit and thor-
oughness with which the investiga ion
viii be carried on. 1t is here given in
full.
The investigation of the effect of
grazing upon the national forest re-
serves, in which you are about to en-
gage, will be governed throughout in
accordance with the following consider
ations:
This investigation is undertaken at
the request of the honorable secretary
OF the interior. In the letter to the hon
orable secretary of agriculture, which
contains his request, after referring to
the preparation of other reports on for
est matters for the interior department
by this division, he says:
"Grazing in the national forest re-
serves being one of the most important
of all the questions which relate to
them, will naturally form a chief sub
lect Of the aforementioned reports. In
the necessary Investigations and in pre-
pairing these reports, I have the honor
to request that special attention be CIV
en- to the following phases of the SUBJ
iect:
Il. The grazing industry in the forest
reserves in relation to taxation and the
general prosperity Of specified locali-
ties.
"2. The relation of grazing to forest
fires.
%. The relation of grazing to the
preservation and reproduction of for
ests.
"A. The relation of grazing to irriga-
ton and water supply.
IS. The relative effect of grazing by |
kinds of stock.
"6. Moderate grazing and over-graz-
ing in forest reserves"
In undertaking the investigation
along these lines this division occupies
I completely impartial position. 1t has
no case to prove, no interest to favor
except the public interest, nor any pre-
conceived ideas to establish or defend.
is only concern is to discover and re-
BORT the essential facts, and upon them
o base it's recommendations. In order
o destroy any chance of mistake or
Misunderstanding upon this subject, I
Iuote from an official statement by. the
secretary of agriculture. Ger
ain misconceptions of his attitude, by
which he has been represented as un-
ompromisingly hostile to forest graz
ng. have been widely circulated, and
t is important that you should know
where he stands. He says:
Every question of grazing should be !
ecided in each reserve, and each part
f a reserve on its own merits. As q
ule, grazing should be regulated, not
rohibited, except in special cases like |
Duthern California. Many parts of for
1t reserves contain excellent grass and '
forage, which can be harvested $
My by grazing, and which should not
2 wasted" |
This investigation will be carried out |
richly in the spirit of the secretary's
.atement. O
Just now public interest in forest t
'azing is exceedingly keen. Great in t
lstries will be affected by a decision
permit or prohibit it in the forest re-
rves or in my part of them. The pos
for public and private gain or II
are large. Radical differences of 81
nest opinion are frequent, and testi- n
ony both that grazing Injuries the for
t and the interests that depend upon
and that 1t does not, Is forcible and
undant. While you should hear both G.
les fully, and should avail yourselves til
whatever friendly assistance you OF
" require and either side may offer, c,
lr report must be based on your own W
'sonal observations. The statements ar
interested parties should be tested in sn
cases by comparison with the facts us
l have yourself ascertained at first ma
I'd on the range. 1t Is of the first i'm CO
'tance that you should know the We
Ige thoroughly. You will find it nee lar