The Glenwood post., 1904-08-20
THE GRAZING LAND QUESTION.
Cattiemen lndorse the Local Option
Plan Suggested by c. E.
Wantland.

Stock Association first took up the con-
sideration of a plan by which the graz
ing lands on the public domain, rapidly
being depleted by ovetstocking, should
be saved to future generations, and an
equitable basis for control could be es-
tablished The debate was on the fol-
lowing resolution:
Resolved, that such of the public
lands of the United States as are adapt
ed for grazing should be subject to
lease by stockmen, who are citizens, at
reasonable rental, and under such
conditions as will tend 10 preserve the
grasses from destruction, and improve
the value of the grasses thereon
The debate was led by Mr.. c. u.
Wantland of Denver, Colorado, whose
twelve years experience in handling
western lands had made him familiar
with the situation, and gave him oppor-
tunity to speak with authority, and
draw intelligent conclusions. His rem
edy for the evils that were pressing on
the live stock industry in the West,
were embodied in these remarks:
/ Nov, as an offset to all that has
been proposed, is it possible for stock
men to get together and formulate any
scheme which will be generally salts
factory or that will at least satisfy the
majority? think so. and suggest local
option plan. The registers and receivers
of the United States Land Office to
do the leasing. the plan to apply to any
county whenever the secretary of the
interior is satisfied that a majority OF
the stockmen in such county wish it to
take effect. Ii our contention is cor
rect, that proper control improved 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 for each state. The
irrigable districts should be placed IN
separate leasing groups to be leased for
short terms, so that the best use of the
land for agricultural purposes will not
be prevented or delayed.
Leases should cover tracts selected
to best serve the needs of the people
from five to ten sections for each sec
ton owned. Terms of lease on land
good only for grazing to be about five
years, and at rates ranging from one
half cent to three cents per acre, low
enough to cover years of adversely as
well as prosperity. AS the people of
the West believe in the private owner
snip of property, provision should be
made for gradual appraisals and sales
of lands at stated periods, at fair
prices, and on long time.
I'm the desert misunderstanding the
winter ranges, where sheep can only
exist by moving great distances-leas-
Ing districts should be restricted, ex-
cept in cases where the sheep owners
form themselves into associations gen.
orally satisfactory, adopting a license
system among themselves. Trails and
roads to accommodate traffic to rail-
road shipping points should be ar
ranged by county authorities.
"As nearly two-thirds of the public
land in Utah. Idaho. Montana. Nevada
and Arizona is unsurveyed, the extern
sion of such leasing systems would nee
essarily be slower than in other states
thus giving ample time for the neces-
sary adjustment to new conditions"
The matter of the disposal of the
grazing lands in any form met with
strong opposition. For four years the
subject has been kept alive. In the
meantime the federal authorities took
1t up. President Roosevelt, on request
of the National Live Stock Association,
appointed commission to investigate
the subject. The commission met in
Denver recently with 200 members of
the National Live Stock Association,
and after three days session. where
at the subject was given extensive con-
sideration. the following recommends
ton was made to the commission:
ITO the special land commission ap-
pointed by President Roosevelt to in.
vestigate conditions in the arid and
semi-arid states in reference to Eraz-
ing lands and forest reserves:
Whereas, The past creation of for
est reserves has often been ill-advised
and far-reaching and the administra-
tion thereof as concerns the grazing
interest, has been faulty even to in
justice, and believing that the De-
partment of the Interior is not fully
equipped to study and handle the for
est reserve question; and,
whereas, Feeling that the present
grazing system has been built up
through a term of many years. CON
suming the life work of the western
pioneers and of the younger genera
tion, entaling untold hardships and
even sacrifice of life. and believing
that such sturdy efforts entitle the
great majority of the present occu-
pants of the range to no uncertain
voice in the initiation of any legisla-
tion that may affect their interests;
therefore, be it
Resolved That we favor the pass
sage of law which will authorize the
secretary of agriculture to thoroughly
classify the vacant lands of the United
States and determine the conditions at
present governing the use of the range
grazing areas and to ascertain those
sections of the range area, If there be
any. to which lease system can be
satisfactorily applied; and be it fur
ther
Resolved. That the power to Gre
ate and administer forest reserves
shall be vested in the Department Of
Agriculture which is specially organ
lied and equipped for that purpose;
and be It further
Resolved, That we favor govern
ment control of and jurisdiction over
all public grazing areas by or through
the Department of Agriculture, local
questions being decided on local
do oy,l