The Grit-advocate., 1905-12-08
THE FARM AND RANGE
No More Free RANGE.

the Denver Post says:
The day of the free range grass for
cattlemen is past. Already the stock
men who use the ranges included with
in forest reserves are compelled to get
a permit from Uncle Sam and to pay a
fee tor the privilege of the grazing OF
their stock, and during the winter
Congress will undoubtedly act on a
bill for an act TO put all the public
lands of the West upon practically the
same basis. 1t is the inevitable, and
though the stockmen may protest and
object, it will be in vain.
This much, at least, was made clear
by 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.. Pinchot put
in words, was not necessary TO those
who know the warm relations be-
tween the President and Mr.. Pinchot
to know thar he officially voiced the
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
it 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 the right
it 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 off 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
the benefit Of community of stock
men to prevent cattle straying too far,
StOckmen living adjacent to the re.
serves will be permitted to fence 320
acres for protection from range stock.
Where live stock associations make
the request the forester will grant ad.
visory powers This will give them
authority to confer with forest officers
and supervisors of the forest to sue'
gest local regulations and methods for
handling reserves.
Material reductions We're promised
in the grazing fees. The regulations
provide for two sets of fees, 20 to 81
cents and 35 to 80 cents per head, ac.
cording to location of grazing The
forester stated that he would apply
the lowest rate to Colorado. 20 to 81
cents per head. and would make fur.
ther reduction, as follows: All appli'
cations received to be classified ac
cording to number of head When ali
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 portion equal to the highest mum.
Der in the lower list and full fee on the
balance.
This may be illustrated best by sup,
posing the list of applications contains
but four applicants, one for twenty-five
headone for fifty. head, one for sew
twenty-five head and one for 10C
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
ment 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 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.. Piuchot eX'
planned that it 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
course this will require an act of Con.
gress, but there has recently been de.
veloped a stronger sentiment in favor
of such change. Overstocking has
so depleted and 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 its attention
to protecting the small stockgrower.
THE large owner is usually capable OF
caring for himself said he.
! The result of the Glenwood meeting.
on the whole, has been good. Stock
men have a much better understand
ing of the new regulations and they
are commencing to realize that with
five-year permits, which are promised,
and an opportunity to run their stock
with the protection of the government
they can afford to pay the small fee re-
quired. There are some who are still
shouting to be let alone, but the ma
jority realize that the new policy in
regard to the public lands is just and
that it will prove of big advantage to
the stOckgrOwer. The fact that Pres
ident Roosevelt is backing the new
plan also serves to give confidence
Five model farms for the elucidation
of the Campbell system of dry soil cul-