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

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reservoirs, even II they were construct
ed by public aid. There is no danger
| OF quick action on the State cession
plan. Another plan recently urged pro-
vides that the title to public lands shall
remain as at present but that the States
| should be allowed 10 lease and use
| the proceeds for school purposes and
the construction OF storage reservoirs.
| The objections 10 this plan are not
great, and u Is possible that some
method Of Joint control may be worked
into shape as q compromise measure.
There has been recently presented
In Washington number OF plans for
direct leasing by the general govern
ment--to which stockmen are Directing
-as being blanket schemes for long
time leases, covering all the States re-
gardless of the special conditions exist
ing In the different States.
A LOCAL OPTION PLAN.
Now. as an offset 10 all that has been
proposed is It possible for stockmen
10 get together and formulate any
scheme which will be generally salts
factory, or that will at least satisfy the
inQlpllNgs 4 Nlilllh ~ anu kSNoA a ~
cal option plan. The registers and re-
ceivers Of the United states land office
do the leasing, the plan TO apply TO any
county, whenever the secretary OF the
interior is satisfied that a majority OF
the stocklnen in such county wish tito
take effect. IL our contention is correct
that proper control improves the
ranges, then, this plan would soon
spread wherever natural conditions are
favorable or can be adjusted satisfac-
torily. The lands should be CLASSIFIED
by commissioners appointed for each
State. The irfigable districts should be
placed in separate leasing groups TO be
leased for short terms, so that the best
use OF the lands for agricultural pur-
poses will not be prevented or delayed.
Leases should cover tracts selected 10
best serve the needs Of the people from
five 10 ten sections for each section
owned. Terms of lease onland good for
grazing to be about five years, and at
rates ranging from lsc to &c per acre
low enough 10 cover years Of adversely
as well as prosperity. As the people Of
the West believe In the private owner
ship Of property, provision should be
made for gradual appraisals and sales
OF lands at stated periods, at fair prices.
and on long time
In the desert misunderstanding the win
ter ranges where sheep can only exist
by moving great misunderstanding dis
tiict should be restricted except In cases
where the sheep owners form them
selves into associations generally salts
factory, adopting a license system
among themselves. Trails and roads to
accommodate traffic TO railroad ship
ping points should be arranged by
county authorities. As conditions are
different in the various States and
counties Of each State, leasing opera
tons should be subject 10 a temper
airy suspension at any time, II the gov
ernor or legislature In any State certify
that further leasing In such county
would not be In line with good public |
policy. Lands covered by lease TO re-
main subject to homestead, desert act |
and mineral entries. but these laws |
should be amended to cover present de- |
fects. The receipts for each State |
should be kept separate 0ne-third OF |
the gross receipts should be paid over |
10 the counties, thus enabling them 10 |
reduce taxation; the remaining two
thirds 10 be used for expenses for irri- |
cation surveys, TO be conducted by the |
United States geological survey, and as |
additional appropriation for the COM
pletion of public land surveys and the |
construction of irrigation reservoirs
within the State
As nearly two-thirds Of the public
land OF Idaho. Utah, Montana. Nevada
and Arizona is unsuryeyed, the extern
sion of such q leasing system would
necessarily be slower than in other
States, thus giving ample time for the
necessary adjustment to new condi-
lions.
Stockmen must keep IN mind the fact
that other people generally do not I'M
derstand the difficulties under which
operations were conducted during the
lean years Of the recent past High
prices now blind them.
Probably the only way now to get
what you want 10, what you ought to-
have is TO secure assistance from the
others. who also have interests to be
advanced.
WILL BENEFIT TAXPAYERS.
Under the plan suggest. one-thlrd OF
he lease money going into the county
viii benefit all taxpayers.
The completion OF public land surveys
viii be Of great assistance TO the min
ng interests, and influence OF mining
men VIII be with you. The irrigation
will give official reports needed
now by capitalists, who investigate lr-
-igatien investments, covering large
as well as by cooperative
who take up and reclaim
'mall districts and would hasten the
agricultural DEVELOPMENT Of the arid
states, which stockmen desire because
heap hay for winter feeding Is needed.
rhe construction Of reservoirs will make
sure the crops on hundreds OF thou
lands Of acres now under existing canal
iystems; open 10 settlement large areas
inder new systems too expensive for
private capital TO undertake. and afford
from foods thus solving
lifficult problems and conflicts. But the
yreatcst assistance can be secured By
In your cause the newspapers
4 the West. The power Of the press
an be used TO help you settle this ques-
ion in your own way, II that way is
light, but you have no right 10 ask for
uch service free of charge In the
parsley settled States newspapers have
lone great Work during the past years
4 depression. Probably no other class
( business has been kept up 10 lis
tandard so well. They are expected 10
i've the best. but the people do not