The Greeley tribune., 1906-01-11

HON. ETHAN ALLEN HITCHCOCK.
Secretary of the Interior.
tion and reconnalssances and surveys,
such as has been the history in the
great irrigation works of every other
country, there are to-day in course OF
construction, dozen huge projects,
and last June. just three years after
the law was passed, the first project
was completed.
OF Vast Import to Nation.
Secretary Hitchcock's vigorous work
in saving the public domain for home
seekers, and in bringing into prac-.cal
operation Il policy for the absolute
creation out of desert nothing, of
thousands ann eventually millions OF
prosperous American homes is, in
reality the greatest work of the gener-
alton. The actual benefit of this great
internal development and improvement
of the nations property far surpasses
the work of any other department OF
the government.
(7Ae /ollo,cing is The last portion of The report
of whose members are em9loyed Hnder Secretary
Hfeheoek, and .rhOse rsesos on IanaJ Jr6aas accord
soitk their cAteTs)
Grazing Lands.
The great Dulk OIL the vacant pupliC
lands throughout the West are unsuitable
for cultivation under the present known
conditions of agriculture. and so located
tion. They are. and probably always must
be, OF chief value for grazing; M ood Ihere h are;
nt is pubo and an
mately equal to one-fifth the extent of the
United States proper Ihe s1 exact limies nnnes
large areas OF land which AFFORD good
grazing one year are almost desert in an
ed or timbered land in which grazing has
much importance. and until further
classification of the public lands is made
it vii The be to ye IS
vast and the. commercial interests IN
est degree the wise and conservative ham
ding Of these vast resources res aree ee;,,,.., 70
know whether these grazing lands are be-
ing used in the best way possible for the
continued development Of the country or
system which Is detrimental to such de.
velopment and by which the only present
value of the land is being rapidly de-
AT present the vacant public lands are
theoretically open commons, free to al
proportion have been parceled out by more
or less definite compacts or agreements
among the various interests. These tacit
The sheepmen and cattlemen are in fire.
quent collision because of incursions upon
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 fre-
Quently follow. after which new adjust
ments are made and matters quiet down
for q time. There are localities where
the people are utilizing to their own salts,
faction the open range. and their demand
out among themselves the use of the
lands: but an agreement made to-day may
be broken tomorrow by changing condt-
tions OF shifting interests.
public grazing lands has resulted. natu.
rally and inevitably. in overgrazing and
the ruin of millions of acres Of otherwise
valuable grazing territory. Lands useful
for grazing are losing their only capacity
for productiveness. as, of course. they
must when no legal control is exercised.
1t is not yet too late to restore the value
OF many OF the open ranges: Lands ap-
parently. denuded of vegetation have inn
proved in condition and productiveness
upon coming under any system Of control
which affords means of preventing over
stocking and Of applying intelligent man
tracts the valuable forage plants have
been utterly extirpated. and 1t is imprac-
ticable even to reseed them On other
tracts IL will be possible by careful man
TO recover their vigor and to distribute
seeds. which will eventually restore much
of the former herbage. Prompt and effect
i've action must be taken. however. II tho
value of very much of the remaining pub.
lie domain is not to be totally lost.
The conclusions as to grazing reached
by your commission were based:
First. Upon the results of long acquain-
land States on the part Of eact- member
of your commission.
Second. Upon the results Of careful ex-