The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23
Commenting His Policy Regard
ing the Forest Reserves.
FAYORS HOME MAKERS
By Charging Them Half the
Rate for Pasturage
That Is Exacted From Cattle
Barons and Transients.

Washington, Dec. 23.-The president IN
a letter addressed to Secretary Wilson
Of the department OF agriculture on the
subject of fees for grazing horses and
cattle in the national forest reserves,
upholds the secretary in the regulations,
formulated by him and which Will be-
come effective January 1, 1906, whereby
certain rules are laid down for the
granting of grazing permits.
The communication is the result of
protest sent to the president by cattle
men from one of the western states and
is based on a report by Secretary VILE
son to whom the protest was referred.
The letter of the president follows:
THE White House, Washington, D. c.,
Dec. q, 1905.
My Dear Mr.. Secretary have re-
ceived your letter of December zoth, I
cordially approve of the policy you are
carrying on Your effort is to keep the
grazing lands in the forest. reserves for
the use Of the stockmen and especially
the small stOckmen who actually live in
the neighbOrhoOd Of the reserves. To
prevent the waste and destruction Of
the reserves and to keep them so that
lhey can be permanently used by the
stockmen no less than by the public you
nave to spend a certain amount Of
money. Part of this money is to be
obtained by charging a small fee for
each head of stock nastured on the rel
serve. Less than a third of the actual
value of the grazing is at present charg-
ed and it is OF course perfectly obvious
thaC the man who pastures his stock
should pay something for the preserva-
tion Of that pasture. He gets all the
benefit of the pasture and pays for its
use but small fraction of the value
that 1t is to him; and this money is in
reauty returned to him because it is
used in keeping the forest reserve per-
manently available for use.
You this year make a special reduc~
tlon by which the small ranchmen nav
but half rates. This is in accordance
with the steady policy of your depart
ment as regards the westerR lands,
which is to favor in every way the act
llal settler, the actual home maker the
man who himself tills the soil or himself
rears and cares for his small herd Of
callle- IN granting grazing permits YOU
give preference first to osthe small nearby
owners; after that to all regular occu-
pants of the reserve range; and finally
to the owners Of transient stock. This
Is exactly as it should be. The small
nearby owners are the homsteaders. the
men who are making homes for them
selves. by the labor of their hands the
men who have entered to possess the
land and to bring up their children
thereon. The other regular occupants
Z of the reserve range, that is, the lar-er
ranch owners, are only entitled to come
after the smaller men. If after these
have been admitted there still remain an
ample pasturage, then the owners Of
transient stock, the men who drive
the tramp herds or tramp focks hither
and thither should be admitted. These
men having no permanent location. do
but very little to build up the land and
are not to be favored at the expense of
the regular occupants, large or small.
This system prevents the grass from
being eaten out by the great herds or
fiocks of nOnresidents. for only enough
cattle and sheep are admitted upon the
reserves to fatten upon the pasturage
without damaging it. In other words
under the policy you have adopted the
forest reserves are to be used as among
the most potent influences in favor of
the actual home maker, of the man with
a few dozen or a few score head of cat
/ tie which he has gathered by his own
| industry and is himself caring for. This
is the kind of man upon whom the
foundation of our citizenship rests and
it is eminently proper to favor him in
every way. Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Hon. James Wilson, Secretary of sAgrl-
culture"