East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-06-06

BY a decision OF the forestry bureau
OF the department of agriculture, the
appeal OF the Umatilia ccainty sheep
men against the allotment OF the We
naha reserve has been denied. The
action of the department is announced
in the following letter from Overton
w. Still. associate forester. to Dan p.
Smythe, secretary of the Umatilla
county association
Dear Sir:
After a careful consideration of
the appeal from the decision of RAN
ger Schmitz made by Mr.. Raley and
yourself on behalf of the Umatilla
County Woolgrowers' association, in
reference to the allotment of grazing
privileges on the Wenaha reserve, the
forester has decided to sustain Mr..
SchmitZ ON all OF the points presented
except that In reference to the Cum
ningham sheep & Land company. In
this case n appears mistake was
made and that the applicants are en-
titled to a larger number of sheep
than was allowed. l enclose a copy
OF the forester's reply to Mr.. Schmitz
for your information"
Purchasers Get Range Rights.
In the letter TO Ranger Schmitz the
the chief forester holds that as the
Cunninghe Sheep & Land company
purchased the plant of Charles Cum
ningham, in accordance with the cns-
tom OF the country. they therefore
succeed 10 the range privileges held
by the latter and are entitled to per-
t,, h.
cept as far as this privilege is mcdi-
fled by fine regulations. Accordingly
the company is placed in rank "B,
instead OF &C." and are allowed an
additional 1000 head In the reserve.
The following letter from Senator
Fulton tells of this work with the de-
partment IN regard to the appeal thHt
was made.
Washington, ID. c., May 80, 1906
Mr.. Dan p. Smythe,
Sec. Umatilla Co. Woolgrowers' As
sociation, Pendleton, ore.
NY Dear Mr.. Smythe:
have Just received from the for
est service, copies of official CORES
ponaence relating to the Wenaha ap-
peal, and the same day copies OF ffre
appeal and affdnvits, mailed by you
This was the first intimation l had
that an appeal had been taken. Com
ing the very last days of May, with
the opening ef the reserve but four
or five days removed, l am unable
to accomplish anything for the pres
ent season as / find the department
felt impelled to decide Immediately.
ANY considerable alteration of condi- |
tions imposed by the supervisor in
yolved reduction uf Washington sheep |
rather than mere adding of numbers
to Oregon flocks- Washington men
were said to be Geady to enter the
reserve June /, and necessarily had
moved toward the line in May. The
department holds that 1t had either
to reject the Washington allotments
for the entire season, or permit them
to prepare for occupation of the re-
serve through the month of May.
When urging immediate action on
the appeal, / thought 1t could be sent
10 headquarters within week after
the meeting April 26, which would
give time for me to present the case
fully and the officials to readjust the
allotment, II they were convinced an
Injustice had been done US. l am not
able to determine whether the super
visor is at fault in forwarding the
appeal. On some OF your documents
sent to him I note his receipt entry
Is May 1, and with others May IA.
notice also that he has gathered, or
men gathered for him. af-
fidavits to refute the affidavits OF our
Oregon men. Possibly our appeal was