The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-06-09
wYOMINe--A GAME PRESERVE.

WYoMING--A GAME PRESERVE.
n OVERNOR CHATTERTON Of wy
u oming resents the apparent pur-
pose Of the interior department TO turn
that state into a vast game preserve
for the benefit Of an eastern associa-
ton Of sportsmen. Over one-third OF
that state has been segregated by the
national government for reservations
of different kinds and. as a result, the
reserve question is now considered most
vital to the interests of the common
wealth It was upon this question that
the late governor, Mr.. Richards, took
issue with President Roosevelt, and his
successor is equally insistent on the
necessity OF the institution Of the re
forms demanded by the former. Gov
ernor Chatterton last week, upon his
return from a tour of the state and
especially in the vicinity of the Yellow
stone forest reserve" addressed
vigorous communication TO the secre-
tary OF the interior in which he pro
tested:
''First-Against the unwarranted en-
largement of the forest reserve by the
adding thereto of large tracts of irri-
gable and pasture lands.
''Second-Against the continuance Of
one A. A. Anderson, a resident of New
York city, as superintendent Of the Y ell
lOwstOue forest reserve.
''Third-Against the prohibition of
live stock grazing on the open. grassed
parks and untimbered portions of the
reserve.
''Fourth-Against the apparent en-
deavor to convert the forests under
the cloak Of forestry, into game pre-
serves.
'Fifth-Against the adoption of any
other boundary line for forest reserves
than the outside timber line"
To these formal protests Governor
Chatterton added this general state
ment:
II find that thousands of acres of
irrigable lands, lying along creeks,
upon some of which settlers have been
located for some time and made many
valua bic improvements. and upon the
remainder Of which others desire to
settle, upon which there is not a stick
Of timber, have been either originally
included in or from time to time added
10 the reserve.
This seems to US to be unjust and
very detrimental to the best interests
of the immediate settlers and to the
state at large.
1.-THE people protest against a su-
perintendent who is not only a non
resident, but totally out Of sympathy
with the conditions here. ana who is
in no way qualified for so important
pOsitiOn-One who makes his boast that
he IS creating game preserve in the
interests of a foreign association known
as the League Of American Sports
men.
"A large portion of the mountains
in the reserve is above what is known
as timber line These portions, to-
gether with many parks within the
timber, are pasture lands. Live stock
IS grazed in winter upon the lowlands
and plains. where snow is used for
water. and the pasture lands in the
mountains. where there are streams.
are used as summer range, as there
is no water on the plains in summer,
and the grasses Of the mountains is a
better fattening feed for the prepara-
ton of livestock for the fall market.
The raising of livestock is Wyom-
ing's greatest industry and we must
protest against its ruination in the in
terests of our eastern friends who
have lately acquired a desire to hunt,
and we feel that our state game law
is quite adequate and so enforced as to
render sufficient protection to the
game.
''The continuance of the present
policy Of charging the reserva ton by
the addition Of large tracts of pasture
and irrigable lands, and the prohibi-
ton of grazing thereon, will very
shortly result in driving large numbers
Of livestock growers either out of bust
ness or out Of the state, which viii
not only be a severe blow to them in
d1vidualIy, but great detriment to
the welfare of the state at large
we, therefore. ask that the area of
the forest reserves be reduced to the
actual area Of the timber; that live
stock owned by actual residents be
allowed to Craze in the parks and above
timber line, under reasonable rules:
that such reserves be not converted.
under any pretext, into game preserves.
and that the superintendent of the
reserves be appointed from the actual
residents of the state and because of
their known qualifications for the posi-
ton; and that no reserve be created
without actual inspection and accurate
survey Of the territory is first had
Governor Chatterton's letter should
receive immediate attention. and It IN
doubtedly viii if the New York sports
men who wish to hold Wyoming as a
game preserve are not more influential
with Mr.. Hitchcock and. the president
than the fortunes and happiness Of the
thousands Of small ranchmen who are
being elbowed out of their homes to
make way for wild game for Anglo
New York aristocrats who wish to
apply to the state the methods that
the ConquerOr ruth1essIy ap-
piled to Southern England when he
created the New Forest.