, 1906-06-02
GRAZING ON PUBLIC LANDS.


ut Washington will continue TO agitate
the matter of leasing the pubic do
main until some act is passed 1t
therefore behooves the west to see to
1t that the legislation Is of a favorable
nature and hat the proceeds are used
for the benefit of the people who have
brought about the settlement Of the
arid region and who have caused the
public domain to be OF value. They
will nav to pay the price demanded
and they should have the greater por-
ton of the benefit.
During the present session of con-
gress several bills looking to the leas-
ing Of public lands have been intro
duced but hone is likely to become a
law. Before legislation is possible, 1t
will be necessary for the stoclSmen to
come TO some sort of an understand
ing among themselves. AS long as
there is a wide difference of opinion.
there is little possibility of doing any
thing. .5|
In a recent bulletin the bureau of
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straightforward, intelligent manner. 1t
1 calls attention TO the am in which
the forest reserves are now being han
died under a leasing system and advo-
Gates that the same system be ap-
piled to the entire public domain. 1t
says:
Necessary range divisions between
owners of different kinds of stock are
made, and controversy between sheep
men inc cattlemen is promptly ended.
Where necessary, the construction of
drift or division fences is also allow
ed, provided the area fenced is not
greater than the needs of the stock
owner.
"Outside the forest reserves, howev-
er, is an area of public land, estimated
at 400 600, 900 acres, which has no pres |
ent value except for grazing purposes.
On this land grazing is wholly unre-
strained by law, Commercial interests,
great and small. have competed for its
use, and the result has been abuse of
the range. Millions of acres have. been
recklessly overgrazed and practically
ruined. In his last annual message the
president says: 1T is probable that
the present grazing value of the open
public range is scarcely more than half |
what 1t once was or 1t might
easily be again under careful regula-
ton Some stockmen have, to the ex- |
cluston of Others, possessed themselves |
of the strategic positions-that is, the
lands controlling the streams, springs,
and other watering places, and by this
means has secured temporary control
OF the adjoining grazing lands. Charges
of fraudulent entry have fed to litiga-
ton. Great areas have been illegally
fenced. Again, stock owners, notably
sheep and cattle men, have defended
their conflicting claims by force of
arms, causing serious loss of property
and even OF life,
obviously such conditions should
be corrected by law. The remedy would
seem to be to apply to the open pub
lie range the regulations already gov
erning the forest reserve. This con
clusion is strengthened not only by the
success attending the forest-reserVe
policy, but also by the effect of fencing
grazing lands. Though illegal, this
, fencing has in most cases greatly i'm
proved the condition of the area in
closed. Care, however, must be taken |
TO avoid the application of sweeping
and ironclad regulations to an area so
vast and to conditions so different. The L
investigations of the public lands COM {
mission show that immediate applica. .
o OF n intleXible rule to all graz )
Ing lands alike, regardless of local con {
ultlons or grazing values, would be dis
astrous, n that improvement must =,
be sought through the gradual intro >
auction into each lOcalty OF such form
OF control as is specifically suited TO il.
In his message, already referred to,
the president saws: n
The beSt-use OF the public grazing |
lands requires the careful examination .
m classification of these lands in or =.
der TO give each settler and enough
10 support his family and no more.
While this work is being done. and
until the lands are settled, the goyern-
ment should take control OF the omen
range, under reasonable regulations
suited TO local needs, following the gen
eral policy already in successful OPP
GRAFTON on the forest reserves
should the policy thus suggested be
established by law great good would
undoubtedly result"
The bureau of forestry is to be com.
mended for the active manner in
which it takes hold of all public ques-
lions pertaining to forestry and the
public domain in general, but The Re I
publican is Of the opinion that it should 5
not be permitted to divert into the de a
partment OF agriculture the entire man h
agement of vacant lands. The inter. a
Tor department has had control of this K
particular branch of the public service Il
ever sine the establishment of the 4
government n there would appear to G
be no good n sufficient reason at this n
time to change that policy. With two b
coordinate branches of the govern u"
ment having jurisdiction over the pub J,
lie lands, n for the purposes of en- W
try and sale and the other for the pur. y,
pose of leasing, there would be conflict 1t
of authority and endless confusion. 1t 4
it not settled yet whether the leasing Nj
system is desirable or not When it " Nc
is settled, the management thereof X
should rest in the interior department "
A London dispatch says: AT a 4
meeting of the health board today it j.,
was stated that samples of Chicago and /
other American canned meat have b
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