Rocky Ford enterprise., 1905-12-15
THE FARM AND RANGE
No More Free Range.


cattlcmcn Is past. Already the stock.
men who use the ranges included with
In forest reserves are compelled TO get
n permit from Uncle Sam and to pay n
fec for the privilege Of the grain. or
their stock, and during the winter
Congress will undoubtedly act on n
bill for an act TO put all the public
lands OF the West upon practically tho
same basis. IL Is the inevitable. and
though The stockmcn may protest and
object. IL will be in vain.
This much. at least. waS made clear
by Chief Forester Clifford Pinchot mt
tho meeting OF cattlcmcn 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 n'Ce Sfary To thos.
who know tho warm relations he.
tween tn. President and Mr.. Pincho,
to know that he officially voiced the
sentiments III the administration.
w. built up this country md Nc
feel that We nr. entitled To tn" uSc OF
the range grams for nothing" said tho
caiticm"n.
you are oy"rstocklnH and running
tho range" replied Forester rincho,.
The government must control III.
ETnEinE to prcvcn, ruin to both III.
forage and the Etockmcn."
w. want You to control It, said
tho catii-mcn. but We do not think
Il fair that the government should
charge ua.''
''Th. goV.rnmcn, feels that In yrant
Ing you the privilege Of uHlng III.
range and protecting you In tho TiEh'
II In riVinE you something that In val
liable and that you should nj least help
To pay tho cNp"nRc." replied tho for
ester,
Will" refusing TO cut OF III" fees
Mr.. rinchui showed a disposition To
meet nil the stocEm-n on complaints
regarding tho regulations and the mol
incalinnH promised w"T" numerous and
important. The most important may
DC mentioned:
Forest rangers will 10 required no,
only to enforce the federal laws regard
ing live stock. hut also tn" state live
stock laws. This will civ" the stock
men nn the reserves - protection not
hctrtoioT" had.
Drif, fences viii 10 permitted where
III" benefit 81 - community 81 stock.
men To pTuY"ut cattle strayIns leo far.
S,uckncn living adjacent to the Tr'
serves will b" permitted io t"nr" go
acres for protection from rang" stock.
Whore iiy" stock associations make
the request the forester will grant al
viRn!y pow"Ta. This will civ" them
authority Ia confer with forest officers
aud supervisors of the foE-st ;n HuE.
g-si local regulations and methods Tot
handling reserves.
Material Ty,tiuCt IONS WrT- promised
| in tho grazing t-,'s, Tn" regulations
provide for tWD sets Of fees. 20 to :.
cents and - to- - cents par head. nc
J cnriInE to- location 81 grazing The
forester stated that he would apply
! the lowest rate to Colorado. 20 to u
| cents per head. and would make fur.
/ Their reduction. as follows: All Rppli.
cations received To- h. classified ar'
ror'iin. TO number nf head. When alt
are received. list will bu cut In two in
| tho middle. the part containing the
lower numbers to by entitled 20 halt
the regular fec aud that part contain
Ing the larger number 10 pay half fec
uu a portion equal to the Highest mum.
hUF in the lower list and full fee on tho
balance.
This mav b- illust rated bcs, by sup.
passing III" It's Of applications contains
hut four applicants. unr for twenty
h"ndour for Tfty. head. one for soy.
rVUniy.Hvr head and one for 100
head. Tn" applicants for the twenty.
i've and nifty head will pay half
foss on nifty head and full ic"s on the
balance.
Hut the most startling announce.
mrut made by Mr.. Pinchui. 10 those
oWh hav" been keeping pace with
events. was that tho President would
recommend to Congress. in fact had
already done so. that the whole public
range would IL. put on tn" same basis
as the forest reserves. under public
control. and biIllCtin Just issued was
circulated. showing the proposed plan
for making all live stock on the public
range get a permit and pay for tho
privilege Of grazing. Mr.. pinChut cx
niainptl that u was the policy at the
government to protect the public
lands. or what was left NJ them, and
the only plan that seemed possible
was through government control. or
course this will require an act Of Con
Ercss. but there has recently been dc.
Vplopcd a stronger sentiment In favor
1f such change. OversiDCkinE has
50 depleted end drnudcd the public
lands of their grasses that they are
practically vaiuplcss nov under the
IlFIRhA Nl'hAVAE VI 'lFtAs lAt' lHh%Es
and Mr.. Roosevelt Is determined that
Congress shall take some action. Tho
plan proposed along the same lines "a
upon forest reserves with low fees and
full protection to the hUmCstUalur and
settler.
The Tcs,sit of tho Glcnwooi 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
flvc-year permits, which are promised.
and an opportunity 10 run their stock
with the protection OF the government
they can afford to pay the small foe re-
quired. There are some who ar. siill
shouting to be let alone. but the ma.
jurity realize that the new policy in
regard TO the public lands is just and