The copper era., 1903-04-30
Correcting Erroneous Statements.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
General Land Office,

OOIIcCt4uS CiIVACVuo ~ GoVOLASH'o'
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
General Land Office,
FLAGSTAFF, Arizona. April 20, 1903
Copper Era. Clifton. Arizona.
Editor:-As a matter OF fairness &c
-heepmen and all concerned in sheep
grazing. would ask that you kindly
publish the following answer TO Ships,
ST. Johns, Arizona, the editor oil
which. for some peculiar reasons OF
his own. refuses to correct any Of the
statements made by MIN. and seem
ingly l. DESTROYS Of using every means
Of preventing a fair understanding OF
the sheep grazing question, 30 far "a
possible.
The Editor OF Snipes was exceed
ingly unfair IN his statements. for, in
the first place TIE decision on the con-
-titutiOnalitv OF the reserve law, for
which b" gives me credit OF making
and on which he bases his statement
that take exception TO the ruling OF
the supreme court of the territory,
Wa in reality decision OF the Court
Of Appeals Of California. in which the
law was held constitutional. 4 copy
OF this decision Or the most important
part OF it wa, forwarded SHIPS and
other newspapers. for the information
Of sheepmen. II was plainly stated in
the copy forwarded him. whose de-
ci-ion 10 was, and there was no reason
Tor the IL i-rcpre-e ntatiOn.
The Editor OF the Ships knows. or
should know. the basis upon which
range allotmeuts were made in the
forest reserves. In apportIOning out
range, -heepmen, "a well a other
stolkmen, were classified as follows:
l7t. Catastrophe living on the re-
serve.
2nd. Catastrophe owning land
within the reserve and living outside.
3D.. Catastrophe living adjacent TO
the reserve.
4th. Catastrophe living within the
territory with some equitable right.
A. but 100. 900 head OF sheep were
allowed on the Black Mess Forest Re
serve, and applications were made for
double that number, it necessitated re-
iecting many Of the third and fourth
classes entirely. 1t happened that a
great rambler of those thrown out
were Mexican people living from forty
to fifty miles from the reserve, and who
owned no property other than sheep.
The classification was made to protect
actual settlers in and along the re-
serve, and it affected those who were
not. regardless of their nationality,
and he Immediately charges prejudice
Tor that reason.
The question Of county lines did
not, in any manner, enter into the al
lotmcnt Of sheep ranges. and allot-
meuts were made by reserve divisions,
allowing is many sheep on the differ
ent divisions "a forest officers thought
II - do -if IN
the reserve. AS there are only about
tea townships OF reserve lands open to
grazing in Apache county, and oyer
100 in COcOninO, and a large area in
Navajo county, the fallacy Of his fig
urcs in this respect may be readily
seen. 1t is fact however that
Apache county sheep do Craze in
other counties wherever they have
rights and have done so for years.
There is no war over sheep ranges,
and the the feeling indicated by the
Editor Of the Ships does not exist
among shcepmen who are informed of
the manner OF making allOtments.
The only object in making such I'M
fair and malicious statements as were
contained in the article, could only be
for the purpose Of prejudicing the
Mexican people and stirring up trOu-
bic for them, for he undoubtedly
knows that the reserve laws will be
enforced, and the poor Mexican people
who follow his advice will certainly
get into trouble.
Mr. Perkins was asked to make a
correction and at least show how the
allotmentS were made, but refused to
do SO, despite his charge of unfairness
i'm others.
That many sheepmen should feel
aggrievcd at the reduction from 80
900 to 100, 900 head of sheep allowed
IN the reserve, is hardly more than
could be expected, but such unfairnesS,
which can hardly be other than a de-
ljberate attempt to distort facts and
stir up peaceful people and get them
into trouble, is far from just to any one
have no particular desire to
Justify myself. but merely to keep set
tiers truthfully informed Of reserve
rules that they may be able to protect
themselves. and | find in most all
cases settlers rightfully informed of
the intentions of the government
have better feeling for reserves and
trcspass in any manner.
Very respectfully.
F. :. BREEN.
Forest Supervisor.