Evening star., 1901-09-21
ONLY SOLUTION OF TIE DIFFICULTY
The Leasing of the Public Graz
ing Lands.
THE SHEEP IN RES
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

be leased from the government. The United
States government now owns between 2o0,-
100000 and 300OO0,00O acres of land over
which sheep, cattle and horses are allowed
to Craze free of charge. The existence Of
this free range common grazing ground
has given rise to many disputes and bloody
battles between conflicting live stock inter-
ests The range cattle industry owes Its
greatness in the past to free grass. but for
several years this industry has been pass
ing through a transition stage. The estab-
lished rancher with land corrals and hay
stack is rapidly superseding the man who
depends entirely upon the public lands for
tie subsistence of his live stock
In some localities a code of unwritten law
has been framed which has resulted in the
division of the grazing lands among linn
tied number of ranchers, who have observ-
ed an attitude of armed neutrality toward
each other and have invariably combined
to exclude the newcomer looking for new
range or for a homestead. The most Sc
rious difficulties have arisen from the an
tagonism which always has and always Will
exist between the cattle and sheep inter-
ests Where sheep have grazed cattle will
starve to death, and the invasion Of a cat
tie range by flock of sheep is looked upon
as a mortal offense to be wiped out with
blood il necessary by the owners of the
cattle.
Many different propositions have been
made to Congress to enact legislation
whereby the question of free range would
De settled by the making of leases at
nominal sum per acre. No one plan has re-
oeived the united support of those inter-
eSted hence it has been difficult. in fact,
impossible for congressman from the east
ern states to determine which would best
serve the interests of the west. The own
RS of large herds of cattle or sheep would
3e very willing to support a leasing law
which would not interfere but rather per-
their
Sans domain. These men would give
hearty recognition to movement which
was started in Chicago not long ago by the
American Cattle Growers Association. This
:ssociation proposes that the government
shall lease the public grazing lands in un-
limited amounts for term of twenty years
o the highest bidder. Under such scheme
- fh'e hiddir" for any one pa particular range
would be confined to those already occupy
Ing it, and it would be very easy for a num-
Der of owners of large herds to combine
and lease an entire section Of country, to
the exclusion of small owners, who need
comparatively small pasturage.
The Idea of Leasing.
The idea of leasing the public grazing
lands appeals very strongly not only to the
big cattle and sheep interests, but to the
congressman from an eastern state, who
is not interested in the subject except as a
matter of public policy. Such congressman
aave been appealed to many times by west
IN men to advocate this or that scheme in
Connection with the public lands They are
-dmiliar with the published reports of
bloody battles between cattle men and
jheep men over the public range and, in
addition, they see no reason as business
proposition why the government should not
ierive some income from this immense es-
cate which requires SO much money each
year for its administration.
There are many dangers, however, in any
suggested St plv
advocated for leasing the public lands The
live stock interests are very powerful in
legislation. They not only have great
weight in Washington, but through their
control of large areas have much to say
in local and state politics in the district
from which they hail These stock inter-
ests would much prefer that nothing be
done at all than to curtail in any way the
rights they have acquired by custom and
mutual agreement. 1t is usual nowadays to
defeat a necessary and popular measure
not by opposing it, but by suggesting some
modification or difference in method thus
confusing the situation and postponing def
mite action by Congress until the session is
exhausted. The eastern members of Con-
gress naturally expect the western mem
bers to agree upon measure before they
can seriously consider it, for the western
members are supposed to know best what
is to the interest of their own people and
states. 1t would be very difficult indeed
To-Day to find any live stock man. any land
expert, or any government official who has
had dealings with the public domain who
Will not say at once that he is in favor of
Teasing the public grazing lands, but each
ana every one of these men has some plan
of his own to suggest which, strange to
say, differs sufficiently from other plans to
make an agreement apparently impossible
num6er OF western senator's and mem
Ders or Congress are heavily interested in
1--we stock. They have acquired valuable
ranches and still more valuable ranges
Their own personal interests favor no
change, but their position before the public
demands that they should present some
plan for ameliorating the condition Of the
small rancher and for inaugurating a more
scientific management of the public COM
mons III a western member Of Congress
is frank he says openly that he prefers
things should remain as they are but that
II there is going to be change he wants
with the IN as not not to
with vested rights" By the prosperity
of the country he means the prosperity of
the big cattle and sheep owners. BY vest
ed rights he means those rights which have
been acquired by mutual agreement be-
tween a few live stock owners and by con-
tlnued trespass upon government property.
This man VIII advocate that the govern
ment should lease it's grazing land to the
highest bidder for twenty-years' term
with privilege of renewal and lease in such
tracts as the applicant may desire.
A policy such as this would put the graz
ing states entirely into the hands of the
large cattle and sheep interests 1t would
stop settlement and drive the small ranch
ers to the wall. In view of these self-evi-
dent propositions 1t is doubtful whether
Congress could be induced to consider this
plan, which is now being advocated SO
strenuously by the organization represent
ing the big cattle ranchers.
Land Classification an ImpOssibiIfty
Some Of the most eminent authorities in
land matters have favored a government
classification of the public land. and SUBJ
seQuently leasing those which were de-
clared to be purely grazing. 1t may be
safely said that a classification Of the pub
lie lands Of the United States today is an
impossibility. The grazing land Of yester-
day is the irrigated farm of today, the
grazing land Of today may be the home OF
the homestead farmer tomorrow. 1t would
be exceedingly unsafe for the government
to attempt any classification Of the pub
lie domain with the idea that such classi-
fication should govern legislation or should
hold good for any term of years It will
take at least a generation to determine
even approximately which land In the arid
states is absolutely uninhabitable or can
not be cultivated.
Many advocates OF state control Of the
public lands can be found; men who be-
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