Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-01-03

HON. ETHAN ALLEN HITCHCOCK.
Secretary Of tho Interior.
ton and reconnaissance 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 policy for the absolute
creation out of a desert nothing, or
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 improyeme1
OF the nations property far 81
the work OF any other de-
the government.
(ZAe LoIiotuin9 is me last bQ1
0Ifhe PrcS,deHTS Pubic Ian
Of whose efembcrS are fupIol -.
Hneheoek, and us0Se mems o. 81
UIIh Their eHFSTSD
Grazing LaSc
The great bulk OF the vGc191
lands throughout the West are unsuf
e cor fasS" Of H9SSF
that they can not be reclaimed by Yr
be. OF chief value for grazing. Thera
II In estimated. more than 10000
OF public grazing land an arg
mately equal TO one-fifth 49,
United States proper.
large areas OF land y
grazing one year are
other. There are alsd
ed or timbered land
much Importance,
classification OF the
IL Will be Impossible
| ness the total acyoai
vast and the som a. +
volved SO great as
est degree the wise II
ding Of these vast FIX = X
IL Is matter Of 8
know whether these ~
ing used In the best '|
continued developm entv
whether they are beinf -
system which rs detrimental TO 3
velopment and by which the only
stroyed
At present the vacant public lands 49,
citizens; but az a mater OF fact a large
proportion have been parceled out by more
among 5 the various S interests These tacIt
agreements are continually being violated.
The sheepmen and cattlemen are in FREE
quent collision because OF incursions upon
each others domain. Land which for
cattle range may be infrlnged upon By
large bands or sheep, forced by drought
70 migrate violence ana homicide fire.
quentiy follow after which new adjust
ments are made and matters quiet down
for a time. There arc localities where
the people arc utilizing 70 their own salts
faction the open range. and their demand
lg % be let alone, 80 that they may parcel
out among themselves the use OF the
lands. but an agreement made to-day may
be broken Tomorrow by changing condi-
lions or shifting interests
The general lack OF control I'm the use OF
public grazing lands has resulted. natu-
| rally and inevitably, in Overgraziug 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 IA exercised.
IL Is not yet too late 90 restore the value
Of many OF the open ranges Lands ap-
parcntly denudcd OF vegetation have Inn
proved In condition and prOductiveness
| upon coming under any system Of control
which affords means Of preventing over
| stocklng and Of applying intelligent man
/ agemcnt 90 the land. On some large
/ tracts the valuable forage plants have
/ been utterly extirpated, and II Is imprac-
/ ticable even 90 rc8ced them. On other
/ tracts n will be possible by careful man
/ agement for the remaining native plants
/ seeds which will eventually restore much
| OF the former herbage. Prompt and effect
i've action must be taken. however, IL the
| value Of very much OF the remaining pub
Il lie domain IS not 20 be totally lost.
| The conclusions as to grazing reached
| by your commission we're based:
| First. Upon the results or long acduain-
l lance with grazing problems In the public
/ land States on the part OF each member
/ OF your commission.
Second. Upon the results Of careful ex-