Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1906-09-18
Hundreds of Delegates Present When
Hon. Solomon Luna Calls
to Order.
BIGGEST GATHERING OF ITS KIND
EVER HELD IN THE TERRITORY
Hon. w. H. Abbott. of Springer. New mexico. Elected
Temporary Chairman--Max NOrdhauS. of
Las Vegas. Secretary

+ 1906. with at least three million seven
hundred and fifty thousand head OF
sheep. 1t is estimate that fully one
million head of old ewes and lambs
were shipped out of the territory in
the fall of 1906.
This years wool crop in New Mex
leo will aggregate eighteen million
pounds, which at an average value of
/ eighteen cents per pound, will be
worth three million two hundred and
] forty thousand dollars. 1t is estimated
that one million lamOs will be shipped
/ to market at an average price of $27O
| per head, or in all two million seven
/ hundred thousand dollars, making a
total income to the territory from the
interests represented by this conven-
tion, of five million, nine hundred and
tcrty thousand dollars.
Such figures as these, which are
conservative, show the great import
ance of the industry, which you who
are gathered here represent, and the
supreme necessity of your getting to-
gether for mutual help and co-opera-
ton, and the need of immediately
building up an organization so strong
that ii cannot be resisted even by the
.
need has already been felt in other
states and the flock masters of Wyo-
ming, Idaho, Utah. Arizona, Oregon
and Washington, have already effect
ed strong associations which can ana
have secured beneficial concessions
that could not possibly have been OBJ
tanned by the disunited effort of in
uIviduals.
To-day is a period of organization,
and it is absolutely necessary for the
producers of wool and mutton to cr-
ganiZe in order to not only protect
their interests from the attacks of
such organizations as the beef trust,
the commission houses and the wool
buyers, but to secure needed changes
in forest reserve regulations, trans
portation facilities, commission charg-
es and other matters These and many
other things you will doubtless thor
oughly discuss during the course of
this convention, and there are only
one or two matters tnat | would ven
ture to call to your particular atten-
ton as, in my opinion, of unusual i'm
portance.
), "One of them is the question of the
proposed law now before the congress
of the united States providing for the
control of grazing on the public lands
OF the United States. 1t is a question
of vast importance TO all the stock
, men of this country, and one which
has been thoroughly studied by men
who are eminently qualified by train.
ing and experience to pass upon it.
The president favors such law and
from information, the accuracy OF
which cannot be DOUBTED, it seems that
some such measures, either the one
now before congress or some other
one will be passed in the near future.
That such a measure is advisable un-
der conditions that now prevail, for
the preservation of range grasses and
for the future of the cattle and sheep
interests of the country, seems TO be
tn opinion of the men who have made
an investigation of the subject and
have particular charge of the meas
} ure at the national capital.
? You who represent the interests in
: New Mexico which would be so close
ly affected by the passage OF such
bill will no doubt seriously take the
, matter under consideration. II there
! are conditions peculiar TO New Mexico,
? you should, as a body, see that such
J conditions are brought to the knowl-
: edge of the national congress.
? Several other issues of great i'm
r pOrtance to Jne sheep growers OF New
2 Mexico and of all the country are very
2 closely associated with policies OF the
) national government. One of these Is
3 forest reserve policy. A great change
2 has come about in the sentiment OF
5 the people of New Mexico in this mat
r ter. II was feared, at first that the
7 setting of large areas of the public
5 domain for the preservation or the
] forests and conservative marketing OF
the grown timber, would result un'
2 fayorably to the territory. That such
: fears are grOundless is now generally
conceded by nearly ali thinking men
e This is especially true of those sheep
, growers who have had one or two
+ years experience in grazing their
r fiocks on the reserves. They find tnat
= the payment of a moderate fee is not
/ hardship, Lut rather, under the liberal
+ rules and regulations of the bureau OF
I forestry, that IL Is an advantage rath
+ er than detriment to their business
The government Is more than willing
5 10 receive suggestions from people
T here and from organizations such as
{ this. II you think that, in particular
. cases, the grazing fee is too high, OF
e that changes should De made in any
S OF the regulations, feel sure that the
t bureau OF forestry will not resent, but
T VIII welcome any reasonable sugges
r tlons you may have to make The
D liberal policy of the federal govern
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