The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-01-05

| Secretary OF the Interior.
ton and "Reminiscences 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, a 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 a policy for the absolute
creation out of desert nothing, OF
thousands and 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
(7he IoiiotuiHg is HE last PORTION ofkhs yeboyf
Of whose members are txfployed Eader Secretary
Hikehe0eR, and uoSe UIstUS on lana /rdhds accord
tvifh their ehief'S.)
Grazing Lands.
The great bulk of the vacant public
lands throughout the West are unsuitable
for cultivation under the present known
that they can not be reclaimed by irriga-
ton. They are, any probably always must
is 81 She5 sdus d 5UP
OF public grazing land, an area approxi-
mately equal to one-tifth the extent q the
cam not BE- set for With seasonal g Changes
large areas of land which afford good
grazing one year are almost desert I'm an
ed or timbered land in which grazing has
much Importance, and until a further
of the public lands Is made
i VIII be Impossible to giSye with exact g
vast and the commercial interests in
volved so great as to demand In the high
est degree the wise and conservative ham
ding OF these vast resources,
1t is matter of the first Importance to
know whether these grazing lands are be-
ing used in the best way possible for the
whether they are being abused under a
system which is detrimental to such de-
velopment and by which the only present
value of the land Is being rapidly de-
stroyed
At present the vacant public lands are
theoretically open commons, free to all
but as a mater Of fact a large
proportion have been parceled out by more
'r less definite compacts or agreements
lmong the various interests. These tacit
rhe sheepmen and cattlemen are In fire.
luent collision because Of incursions upon
'ach others domain. Land which for
attic range may be infringed upon by
arge bands of sheep, forced by drought
o migrate; Violence and homicide fire.
Iuently follow, after which new adjust
nents are made and matters quiet down
or time. There are localities where
he people are utilizing TO their own salts
action the open range. and their demand
; to be let alone, SO that they may parcel
ut among themselves the use OF the
ands; but an agreement made to-day may
70 broken tomorrow by changing condi-
ions OF shifting interests.
The general lack OF control in the use Of
ublic grazing lands has resulted. natu-
ally and inevitably, In overgrazing and
he ruin of millions OF acres OF otherwise
grazing territory. Lands useful
Or grazing are losing their only capacity
iust when no legal control is exercised.
II is not yet too latc &c restore the value
many Of the open ranges. Lands APP
arently denuded OF vegetation have inn
royed in condition and productiveness
pom coming under any system OF control
HIGH affords means Of preventing OVER
cement to the land. On some large
acts the valuable forage plants have
cen utterly extirpated. and Il Is imprac-
acts II win be possible by careful man
cement for the remaining native plants
recover their vlgor and to distribute
.eds, which will eventually restore much
the former heritage. Prompt and effect
o action must be taken, however, IL the
alue of very much Of the remaining pub
8 domain Is not to be totally lost.
The conclusions as to grazing reached
your commission were based:
First. Upon the results OF long acquain-
nee with grazing problems In the public
nd States on the part cf each member
your commission.
Second. Upon the results Of careful en-