Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-30
TEASING THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
,.c r Wantand Before the National Live Stock Con-
AVN veuion at Fort Wonh-A Subject OF Great
Importance TO Stockmen

actresses delivered at the
OF lns convention at Fort Worth
f0'kia. ..,,,sd more attention than 'ha'
S1s wpntlaad when tn, IN re, Ies0 uueIIc
o. =, ,.eard to the leasing OF the pun"
D. Imam ''ip was presented
NJ wantland said , ,or or
NJ will. Of course, vote ior OF o,
s'o'a' ,h,s az they may feel 1t VIII
gam, ,s. ,,' personal interests. Theyare
'n'' 80 ,s awake nights worrying about
Il '.s,rs. but sometimes 1t pays 70 IRE, r.,
o'ns,S hat the other fellows have
p''A' ,a,orssts which ought to be con-
''n' /, may pay to round up the
aa i.,'ng conditions affecting the puolie
f ''r5 question, and If the situation Is
'HD " ~ ha such as to make II prac-
l'' "'. certain that some change Is
'. .,irs and coming quick, then decide
s~i. not wise to get in the band was-
and head the procession and
va # along the best streets,
- ,,c, hat this resolution has been
inc "a IA in the form In which II APP
81 piess"s sha,rs that the committee con-
sais shst some stockmen believe II 10
w., ,o their advantage to lease ana cpn-
IA range lands, and that thefe nus
uo and Is now. danger from over
Nsp sIng The ranges, and that TO nave
mnder control would tend 10 pre-
ln.ll ,be grasses. Stockmen Know
~ ',,sr there Is any truth In such
nsss' J'ncle Sans experts have been
|s,igatlng the matter for years ana
\. ,'lsvs are before the members or
Congress. ,aars the owners
No. stnek have secured many leases
/ STATE land grants from the ara
s,,ss Az present the demand Is great
!. nv probably 100000 acres than can
mpplIed. and the rentals being paid
IN many cases higher than lessees
~ h able to pay II another period OF
,irsrsiy overtakes them.
me- resolution brings up squarely Tor
, islon this question: Shall any leas-
ss 10 favored And II voted down II
-s.ns that the National Lave stock
as.o~ia,on favors allowing conditions
"a remain as az present-a state OF az
ar generally admitted TO be unsatls-
sr5ry; defective land laws, practically
inning premium on perjury; conflicts
ave-, range rights, which constantly re
M, In loss Of life and property-creat-
gg tbe impression that the West Is
Isisss and the whole situation prac-
italy challenging the honesty and In
,.glrsnce OF Western men. Such neg
,tys posltlon will naturally force all
va are opposed 10 a continuation OF
,,sssnt conditions to retreat or fight TO
finish. st0ckmen will continue to be
si,led and 1t Is written. "A house d.
vis1 against itself cannot stand"
PUBLIC LAND QUESTION.
The public land question is Of great
Importance. and the signs of the times
surely Indicate radical action. This |
tosyention is meeting In State whose |
psople never gave up their lands to
M care Of anybody else, who never |
doubted their own ability to handle |
heir own affairs, who never said TO the
World. I'VE possess intelligence and
honesty enough to protect life and a
D5rtlon Of our property, but not all Of |
ii and who would resent as an insult |
he suggestion that they ought TO turn |
over their lands 10 the United States |
and allow them TO be unprotected.
Texas people can give valuable infor-
lailon 70 the delegates from other
States but while insisting upon the |
itysntage OF State ownership OF public
lands as best for them and theoretically |
correct for all States. they VIII not az
this meeting, am sure, use their votes
10 urge that as the only remedy for
The land troubles In other States, where
coalitions are different and where the
ewing need is for immediate action on
some temporary basis fair TO all the
Interests concerned.
Uncle Sam owns exclusive OF his
Alaska and other distant possessions,
about 60 100000 acres, about one-half
q which Is unsuryeyed.
Il Is estimated that Of the 600 0O0,0 900
'asfes from 5O,O00Oo0 TO l5O0OO,0 900 can be
reclaimed by MISUNDERSTANDING
largely upon future construction OF
isssroirs, which is beyond the ability
Of The States 10 undertake. and for
which there is little hope Of securing
private capital. therefore II ever con-
Hucted appropriations must be Sc
ufed from Congress. Probably two
thirds OF the remaining Incorporated
ltblic lands, or say, 40O,000,OO0 acres,
ae Of slme use for grazing purposes.
The census OF 1900 will show about
100000 acres under irrigation. II is
ssilmated that OF the 15O,000O0O acres
i7maning subject to reclamti0n, prob
ably 100000 can be reclaimed at a
us, Of SO per acre. but II only 10000
% acres can be reclaimed at that cost
4 will take less than 500. 900 10
o'uble the irrigation farms in the arid
states At the average rental rates
secured by the mountain States for
DER land grants, under lease at pres
'ii about one-half OF the remaining
gsiIng lands would produce enough
iiyenue In ten years to cover the cost
q retaining these additional irrigated
arms, and Uncle Sam would have the
and With the water supply to dispose
y TO sell or TO give away. Again, az
ne average price at which the States
h'v sell their grazing lands, II would
lNalre the sale OF less than 10000. 900 !
sfes, or one-fourth Of the remaining
l8oIic grazing lands. 10 double the lr-
lealed farms. Experts say that nearly
quarter Of billion dollars can be
,saiied from the sale Of public graz
y. lands. Is not this valuable free
PASTURE to scrap over?
REVENUE FROM LEASING.
me public land States are now leas-
.s uer lands on basis Of nearly a
a. ai'llol dollars a year. Probably less
van . per cent Of the State school
LIONS are under lease at all now.
s,ause they are disconnected. and the
~, .-!Onlng lands are In the open pas
VIZ We are talking about. III under
40, n. l the states could realize dou-
y, ue present revenue from lands
w now own, then the State taves
p.ae oe reduced from % to 50 per cent.
S.s,.y taxpayers oil over the west are
u. aug up, and the fact that only 10
~ 4, WI Of the land area Of the arid
ls ms y now subject to taxation is be-
N. M by. people o. the millions east Of
NJ, ,tss'ufi river are beginning to see
,rlit. "ey also have some Interest In the
So. sha question. II Is said the
,s,rsu...,l nlgh price OF beef has some
r. s,,sson with the past abuses Of the
gl~lsg, ,shds Manufacturers OF the
.snsla, w valley are discussing ey-
,ros, ,,hese days not only on lands
Ahk I9e Pacific but at home. They