The Ordway new era., 1905-12-08
The FARM AND NANCE
Ne Mere Free NM.

Commenting on tuS tScons SSAv
tion OF cattlemen at 0ienwooo npranSs
the Denver Post says:
The day OF the Tree range srase t0f
cattlemen II past. Already the stock
men who use the ranges included with
IN forest reserves are compelled to gee
4 hermit from Uncle Sam and 70 pay .
fee for the privilege of the grasing OF
their stock, and during the winter
Congress will undoubtedly act ON .
hill for an net to put all the public
lands of the West upon practically the
same basis. 1t Ia the inevitable. and
though the stockmen may protest and
object. It will be In vnin-
This much, mt least. was made clear
nv Chief Forester Clifford Pinchot at
the meeting OF cattlemen held at Glen.
wood Springs Friday. and the auto
graph letter he carried from President
Roosevelt, stating about the same
thing in writing that Mr.. Plnchot put
In words. was not necessary to those
who know the warm relations be-
tween the President and Mr.. Pinchot
to know that he oflcially voiced tho
sentiments OF the administration.
I'VE built up this country and We
feel that we are entitled to the use OF
the range grass for nothing said the
cattlemen.
"You are overstocking and running
the range" replied Forester Pinchot.
"The government must control the
grazing to prevent ruin to both the
forage and the stockmen."
I'VE want you to control It," said
the cattlemen. but we do not think
1t fair that the government should
charge u.s."
"The government feels that in grant.
ing you the privilege of using the
range and protecting you In tho right
1t is giving you something that is val
liable and that you should at least help
to pay the expense" replied the for
ester.
While refusing to cut of the fees
Mr.. Pinchot showed a disposition to
meet all the stockmen on complaints
regarding the regulations and the mod
ifications promised were numerous and
important. The most important may
be mentioned:
Forest rangers will be required not
only to enforce the federal laws regard
ing live stock. but also the state live
stock laws. This will give the stock
men on the reserves protection not
heretofore had.
Drift fences will be permitted where
men to prevent cattle straying too far
Stockmen living adjacent to the TO
serves will be permitted to fence $40
acres for protection from range stock
Where live stock associations make
the request tho forester will grant ad'
visory powers. This will. give them
authority to confer with forest ofiicers
and supervisors of the forest to sue
gest local regulations and methods fo1
handling reserves.
Material reductions were promised
in the grazing fees. The regulation,
provide for two sets OF fees. 20 to 81
cents and 35 to so cents per head. nc
cording to location OF grazing. The
forester stated that he would apply
the lowest rate to Colorado. 20 TO 20
cents per head, and would make a fur
ther reduction. as follows: All npplt
cations received to be classified 40
cording to number OF head. When all
are received. list will be cut In two In
the middle. the part containing the
lower numbers to be entitled to hall
the regular fee and that part contain
ing the larger number to pay half fee
on a portion equal to the highest mum
ber in the lower list and full fec on the
balance.
posing the list Of applications contains
but four applicants. one for twenty-five
headone for nifty. head. one for sew
twenty-five head and one for 10e
head. The applicants for the twenty
five and fifty head will pay hall
fees on fifty head and full fees on the
balance.
But the most startling announce
mcnt made by Mr.. Pinchot. TO those
own have been keeping pace with
events. was that the President would
recommend to Congress, In fact had
already done SO. that the whole public
range would be put on the same basis
as the forest reserves, under public
control. and a bulletin Just issued was
circulated. showing the proposed plan
for making all live stock on the public
range get permit and pay for the
privilege OF grazing. Mr.. Pinchot ex.
planned that II was the policy OF the
government to protect the public
lands, or what was left OF them, and
the only plan that seemed possible
was through government control. OF
F, course this will require an act of Con.
| gress. but there has recently been de.
veloped u stronger sentiment In favor
| Of such a change. OverstOcking has
| 30 depleted md denuded the public
lands of their grasses that they are
practically valueless now under the
present methods Of open, free range.
and Mr.. Roosevelt is determined that
Congress shall take some action. The
! plan proposed along the same lines as
upon forest reserves with low fees and
full protection to the homesteader and
settler.
Mr.. Pinchot confessed that the gov.
ernment would first give It's attention
to protecting the small stockgrOwer.
"The large owner ia usually capable Of
caring for himself" said he.
The result Of the Glenwood meeting,