Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-01-05


ton and reconnaissance and SURVEYS
such as has been the history In stlie
great irrigation works Of every othrrs
country, there are to-day In coui'HN of
construction, dozen huge projects.
and last June, just three years inter
the law was passed, the drst project
was completed.
OF Vast import 20 Nation.
Secretary Hitcheock's vigorous work
in saving the public domain for home
seekers, and In bringing Into prac..caI
operation policy for the absolute
creation out Of dessert nothing. " i
thousands and eventually millions of
prosperous American homes ~, IN
reality the greatest work Of the gcner-
alton The actual benefit OF this great
Internal development and Improvement
OF the nations property far surpasses
the work of any other department q
the government.
(7he foiiowivg is the issf portion If ne yxtovf
offAe PyesiaenI's Pubic Lasds 6ossSsssssos. fUe
ffkeAcoe, and frose yfeaps On land JySt1e accor9
ufth their cAsffsl)
Grazing Lands.
The great bulk OF the vacant public
lands throughout the West are unsuitable
conditions OF agriculture, and 80 located
that they can not be reclaimed by frriga-
ton. They are, and probably always must
il is estimated more chan DID. oo0. 100 acres
Of public grazing land, an area appruxi-
atey equal % enefth he extent e ne
can not be set, for with seasonal chansees
large areas OF land which AFFORD good
grazing one year are almost desert In am
bar fThara ara4 a n "A tpaft3 Of v1nnff~
ed or timbered Land In which grazing has
much Importance. and until r. further
Il viii be Impossible to give with exact )
ness the total acreage. The extent f4slqk1
vast and the commercial interests in-
est degree the wise and conaervatiNa hsn-
ding of these vast resources, Ss8
1t Is a matter OF the first impcrtanoe}ton
know whether these grazing lands are ne1
ing used in the best way puEsibIe for u
continued development OF the country Il
whether they are ca 5e1ng aDns e s unaeF
velopment and by which the only pkeger
value OF the land Is being rapidly
At present the vacant public lands ~
theoretically open commons frees#tQ IN
citizens; but as mater Of TACT I@xx0
or less definite compacts or agreerp61(6
among the various interests These 11G1
agreements are continually being x1omtelH
The sheepmen and cattienlen Are m kEG%
auent collision because Of incursionS uH6
each others domain. Land which In
years has been regarded a. exGiuftvQ1X
large bands Of sheep. forced By droa@I|{
to migrate. Violence and honicf{e m "a
quentiy follow, after which new nd56n&eE
ments are made and matters quiet desHG
for a time. There are localities N1&T&S
the people are utilizing to their own A9tit
faction the open range, and their demand
a Is e a ss let a sSsa r saat tes
lands; but an agreement made to$daS ~
be broken tomorrow By chanelng condI
tons Of shifting interests.e Il Il
The general Lack OF control II thu uS6 "
public grazing lands has resulted Snat1s@
rally and Inevitably In overGrazfnG ARD
the ruin Of millions OF acres Qk Otherwise
for grazing are losing their only cnoaci{3
for productiveness. as, OF course they
must when no legal control Is 6xex<jSed
OF many Of the open ranges E45,xa an
parently denuded OF negotiations haVx TIM
proved In condition and prodi1c{ x&nGS6S
upon coming under any ! system 6 eantrot
stocking and Of applying tn&elH14u& ME1(s
agement to the land. On 4Qn46 lafEe
tracts the valuable forage pMntA A4Xa
ticable even to reseed then7. On ofI6GS
tracts it will be possible BY careful g9G1
agement for the remaining natlye pl4G
seeds, which will eventually restore f
OF the former heritage. Prompt and a
i've action must be taken. heWeyerS ~
lie domain Is not to be totally loS{
The conclusions az To nroH0
by your commission were ba1&lkf
First. Upon the results ~ lDu& IN
tance with grazing problems q a.
land States on the part Of each
OF your Commission.
Second Upon he RESULT - 60