The Grit-advocate., 1904-03-18
THE CATTLEhEN
A LARGE GATHERING IN DENVER
Land Committee Reports Important
Resolutions. Montrose Delegates
Favor Extension Of Forest Re-

serves.
Denver. March l5.-The fourth an
nual convention of the Colorado Cattle
and Horse Growers Association
opened yesterday under the most au-
spicious circumstances. Two sessions
were held, during which the 400 dele
gates discussed and acted on a num-
Der Of important matters. Perhaps the
most important matter before the dele
gates WINS the report Of the land com
mittee on the policy to be pursued by
the association in regard to public
lands. Debate and action was post
poned till this morning at 9 o'clock.
Another important matter was res
olution introduced by the Montrose
delegation, indorsing the extension of
the forest reserves.
A resolution congratulating Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Attorney General
Knox on the decision in the Northern
Securities merger case was unani-
mously adopted and copy sent to
President Roosevelt. Secretary John
son was instructed to send a telegram
to President Francis of the World s
Fair Board approving OF the proposed
range cattle show to be held at the
fair
The report of the land committee.
which was made special order OF
business for this morning. was signed
by Acting chairman William II.
Gerdts. When the committee was ap-
pointed last year it was with the un-
derstanding that any plan it proposed
was not to be on leasing basis. In
this respect the report says
In the opinion of your committee
the question of a lease law need no
longer be considered by the western
stockmen. If there ever was time
when such a law could have been
placed upon the statute books OF the
country. that time has passed. and
from our Investigations We are con-
WINGED that even should We desire such
law, Congress would not consider it.
With the stOCkmen divided in opinion
a sto the value of such a policy in re-
lation to the public grazing lands and
the East practically a unit against it.
any further discussion of this solution
of the problem may be dispensed with
as pure waste of time"
The report then took up the special
commission appointed by President
Roosevelt to look into the matter of
public lands. Chief Engineer Newell
and Chief Forester Pinchot, members
of this commission, visited Denver last
January and the land committee. and
presented an outline of principles,
which We're discussed and adopted by
a large number OF cattlemen present.
The same propositions are presented
win the recommendation of adoption,
as follows
"FNrst-That all vegetation upon the
public lands of the United States
should be placed in charge and under
the control of the Department of Agri-
culture
"Second-That actual settlers and
owners of lands should have the first
right to the use of the lands adjacent
to their titled holdings.
"Third-The Department of Agricul-
ture should make such reasonable rules
and regulations as will permit the use
of the grazing lands by settlers and
land owners in an economical manner
and prevent destruction or deteriora-
ton of the forage on the same
"Fourth-That the public ranges
should be divided into districts with
natural geographical boundaries, and
the resident stockmen of each district
be allowed to organize and to have
voice in the making of the rules and
regulations for such district.
"Fifth-That graZers on the public
lands be required to pay the necessary
and actual expenses on all stock grazed
sufficient to pay the necessary and act
ual expenses of government supervis
ion. but that the government should
not seek to derive any revenue from
the use of such lands for grazing, being
satisfied with the natural Improvement
of such lands due to economical use
thereof.
"Sixth-That in making rules and
regulations, no individual rights should
be given, but the largest liberty possi-
Bile be given to the community.
"Seventh-That any law passed to
put into effect these proposed changes
III the control of the government lands,
should give the Department of Agri
culture plenty of time to inagurate the
proposed changes, so that these changes
may be made gradually, with time
enough to enable the department to
amend the rules as experience should
show the necessity.
"Fighth-EXisting conditions as to
the use of the grazing lands by cattle,
horses or sheep, should be changed as
little as possible. but ranges should be
ttSlSlldltN lbl Ndill' bi slttI tlS dL
present divided and said divisions be
Iigidly maintained in the future.
"Ninth-All rules and regulations
that may be made for government of
the use of the ranges should be sub
ject of any amendment that may be
made necessary by local conditions in
any district. In other words. that all
such rules and regulations should be
based upon existing local conditions in
any district
Your committee is Of the opinion
that an effort will be made in the near
future to enact some law to govern the
use of the public lands for grazing pur-
poses. We simply recognize the fact
that a change in the manner of using
the public ranges is very likely to occur
md u.n rn.r1.ntf flrll.- aLlnmn.t Ll-nt II thn