The Grit-advocate., 1906-01-05
LANDS COMMISSIONS REPORT ON
& GRAZING ON THE PUBLIC LANDS

GRAFTON and effect of the present land
laws. and to recommend such changes
as are needed to effect the largest prac-
tical disposition of the public lands to
actual settlers who will build perma-
nent homes upon them, and to secure
In permanence the fullest and most eff
fective use Of the resources of the pub
lie lands"
This commission consists OF w. A.
Richards, commissioner of the General
Land Office; F. H. Newell, chief engi-
neer of the reclamation service, and
Clifford Pinchot, forester of the Depart
ment of Agriculture.
In its second partial report, trans
mitted by the President to Congress on
February 13, 1905, the commission re-
ferred to the grazing problem as fol
lows:
AT present the vacant public lands
are theoretically open commons, free
to all citizens; but, as matter of fact,
large proportion has been parceled
out by more or less definite compacts
or agreements among the various In
terests. These tacit agreements are
continually being violated. The sheep.
men and cattle men are in frequent col
lision because of incursions upon each
others domain. Land which for years
has been regarded as exclusively cattle
range may be infringed upon by large
bands of sheep, forced by drought to
migrate. Violence and homicide fire.
quently follow, after which new adjust
, ments are made and matters quiet
| down for time. There are localities
where the people are utilizing to their
own satisfaction the open range, and
| their demand is to be let alone, so that
they may parcel out among themselves
| the use of the lands; but an agreement
made to-day may be broken tomorrow
u by changing conditions or shifting in
/ terests.
THE general lack of control in the
use of public grazing lands has re
! suited, naturally and inevitably, in
overgrazing, and the ruin of millions
of acres of otherwise valuable grazing
territory Lands useful for grazing arc
losing their capacity for productive
ness, as, of course, they must when NJ
| legal control Is exercised.
| 1.-The conclusions as to grazing
reached by your commission were
| based:
"First. Upon the results of long ac
quaintance with grazing problems il
the public.land states on the part O
each member of your commission.
Second. Upon the results of careful
examinations made for the commission
OF the grazing systems of the state o
Texas, the state of Wyoming, th'
Union and Northern Pacific railroads
and OF the Indian Office in the case o
permits to stockmen for the use OF In
dian lands suitable for grazing, and
the grazing conditions throughout th'
West. A map has been prepared show
ing the general location and area o
the summer, winter and Eear-ioni
ranges, and the sections which arr
largely dependent upon temporar.
water supply for their utilization II
grazing, and those where there ha
been extensive development by we'll
and windmills. We believe that thi
map will be found exceedingly valuable
and interesting in the consideration
all grazing problems, and it is there
fore submitted in the appendix.
Third. Upon the results Of meet
ing called to confer with the commits
sion BY the National Live Stock AssC
citation in Denver early in August
1904 which was attended D.
the secretary of agriculture and b.
representative stockmen from all tn
graZing-land states and territories. IN
opinion of the stockmen present wa
almost unanimous in favor OF some ae
ton on the part OF the governmen
which would give the range user SOM
right of control by which the rang
can be kept from destruction by over
crowdiug and the controversies owe
range rights can be satisfactorily elm
mated, the only question being as t.
the most satisfactory method by whicl
such right may be obtained.
Fourth. Upon 1.400 answers re
! ceived to circular letter addressed t.
stockman throughout the West. Thes
answers show that under the presen
system the pasturing value of tn
ranges has deteriorated and the carry
ing capacity of the lands has great.
diminished; that the present condition
of affairs is unsatisfactory; that tn
adoption of a new system of manage
ment would insure better and NOR
permanent use of the grazing lands
that certain Improvement in rang
conditions has already been brough
about by range control on the forest re
serves, and that the great bulk of th
western stockmen are definitely II
favor of government control OF tn
open range.
Fifth. Upon facts presented a
many public meetings held Throughout
the West and upon innumerable sug
gestions which have been received am
considered.
Your commission concurs in th
| Opinion of the stockmen that SOM
form of government control is neces
sary at once, but is opposed to the i'm
mediate application of any definit
plan to all of the grazing lands alike
regardless of local conditions or actua
grazing value. The following plan i
intended to bring about the gradual az
lication to each locality of form o
control specifically suited to that local
ity, whether it may be applicable tt
any other locality or not. Your com
mission recommends that suitable at
thority be given to the President to Sc
aside, by proclamation. certain grain:
districts or reserves. To the secretar.
of agriculture, in whose department i
found the special acquaintance witt
range conditions and livestock ques
tions which is absolutely necessary TO
the wise solution of these problems
authority should be given to classif!
and appraise the grazing value of thes'
lands, to appoint such officers as thu
care of each grazing district may re
| uuire, to charge and collect moderate