The San Francisco call., 1905-05-12
STOCkMEN ASK
FOR FAIR RATES
Growers in Convention at
Denver Praise the Presi-
dents Railroad Policy
PAPER BY CALIFORNIAN
'sThe Grazing Lands" Is a
Subject Ably Handled
by Colonel John p. Irish

DENVER, May 1.-THE livestock
growers in convention here completed
the organization of the American
Stockgrowers' Association to-day.
Membership is restricted TO producers
The objects Of the association, as out
lined, are to secure for shippers fair
and equitable railroad rates and eft1-
cient service, 10 regulate and enforce
sanitary provisions; TO prevent and
abolish Illegal combinations and trusts;
10 promote foreign trade; TO give the
National Government general superv1-
sion and control Of the home markets
An address on The Grazing Lands
by Colonel John P. Irish of California
was read at the session to-day. 1t was
as follows:
Neither repeal nor amendment Of the land
Federal Government viii solve the problem Of
the grazing lands. After al irrigabie and til
liable land is occupied there will remain about
400, 900, 900 acres OF public domain, mostly ut
for livestock ranges and for nothing else II IS
g valuable asset, with potential wealth What
is TO be done with it2 The Government has
not ret answered that question. and the live
stock Interests have NOT agreed upon what the
answer should be
is ove-ssockec. and a result IT'S forage Is
being destroyed and its stock carrying capacity
dest-acfsor Of the forage plants ana their per-
msnent eradication. erolsion and baking IN the
SUE bring about desert conditions. under
which reSeed1ng and renewal Of pasture II oif-
hcult We al know OF the violence, crime
ane loss q Life and property that go with the
increasing strife for what pasture is left The
protection exrept the Winchester
Such a condition amounts national
scandal and & wsnton destruction OF e property
value which II should be the business Of the
GcVe1nr3ent 10 preserve The facts are all
known and are Of record In the report Of the
land committee Of the House OF Representa-
cives Of Al Investigation which / procured II
The range Industry is 70 survive these grazing
lands must be classified and their occupancy
leeslize6 by e ieasehold
The Government is spending millions 20 pro-
vide irrigation for land 70 which settlers are
invited We al know that the profits of irT5-
CATION In al this inte-raountain region are
found BY raising winter fesd for livestock that
has sumner range he summer range Is
mainly On the grazing lands Of the public do
main that have no ether apparent use. As
the forage disappears the livestock disappears
also. and when the whole summer range is de-
stroyec, es every acre viii he by the present
methods. there viii be no stock TO consume
the winter feed rSssed On the irrigated lands
II VIII be observed, therefore, that the irr1ga-
tion and range leasing policies united The
success CT one depends upon the adoption Of
During the discussion OF this subject the
livestock men of the West have been subjected
20 much criticism and abuse and unjust sus-
picion, al undeseTve6 They were the pioneers
founded. upon which all others have impinged
IN its struggle for existence. has shown some
the Government which has refused 70 see that
lands are classified forest agricultural.
mineral and grazing each with its individual
resources and caPacity- II egriculture had
been made the victim CT the hurts and hin
ORANGES that have SO sorely snitten the live
stock industry, its struggle for existence would
have been more violent than ours
by nc means excuse the livestock men for
their lack OF harmony and their failure 70
stand together and firmly support a move
r1ent that would reach them ALL put money in
the public treasury and give the West a
mighty forward impulse But the tine has
me situation is acute Z is driving our In
oustry into Canada and Mexico TO ind sane
and liberal laws for its protection / am per
sus6ed that a united movement, with this
IN the Classification OF the grazing lands and
their protection by leasehoid
Resolutions were adopted thanking
President Roosevelt for his fight for
equal rights to all at the hands OF the
railroads; declaring that the present
railroad law is inadequate and should
be strengthened by giving to the Inter
state Commerce Commission power to
rates for those which II may find on
Investigation to be unjust or unrea-
sonable''; condemning the private car
line systems controlled by the packers;
asking for the repeal of laws requiring
unloading Of livestock in transit; op-
posing the tonnage system in transpor-
tation Of livestock and asking for 9
minimum speed Of twenty miles ar
hour for stock trains; demandinf
that the Senate of the United State.
shall cease obstructing the application
Of that great principle. reciprocity