Bisbee daily review., 1906-06-10
FEDERAL POLICY
 RELATING ID GRAZING
Successful Permit System Now in Force on Reserve Ranges Improves PaSturage and h. SureS Stability of Ranges,
Necessary Range Divisions Be- tween Owners of Different Kinds of Stock Are Made and Controversies Ended.

Now that the Government grazing policy is in successful operation on he National forest reserves, the question has arisen whether the same or some similar policy might not be applied to open public range.
 The policy of the Forest Service is not to hold the reserves out of 1se, but to secure their fullest and nc st permanent use. To this end, grazing under proper restrictions have thus far met wi h general approval.
 From the first, the importance of fit ting the regulations to local conditions has been recognized. Rules occasion ing needless hardship to stockmeu have been modified, and emergencIes de- manding instant action have been promptly met.
 When a new reserve has been pro- claimed all stock grazing upon it is al- lowed to remain during the first year; if, afterwards, this number is found to be too great for the resources of the range, iL is gradually reduced. Stock men are aided in effecting a satisfac tory distribution of their stock upon the range and in securing from 1t the most profitable and permanent use. Small stock owners living in the vicin- l ity of the reserves are given such pI eference in the allotment of grazing 1 privileges as will protect their inter-
 ests. First occupants of the range asd farmers owning improved lands adja- cent are also preferred. The rights
 of large owners based upon the range
 custom of the past are recognized, and
 reductions in the number of their stock
 are required only when necessary to
 protect the range of the grazing rights of the bona fide settlers.
 Necessary range divisions between
 owners of different kinds Of stock art
 made, and controversy between sheep
 men and cattlemen is promptly ended Where necessary, the construction o1
 drift or division fences is also allowed provided the area fenced is not great CT than the needs of the stock owner. Outside the forest reserves, however is an area of public land, estimated al 400, ,000, 900 acres, which has no pres
 ent value except for grazing purjoses
 On this land grazing is wholly unre strained by law. Commercial interests great and small. have competed for it.
 use, and the result has been abuse O
 the range. Millions of acres have beer
 recklessly overgrazed and practically ruined. In his last annual message the President says: Tt is probabl, that the present grazing value of thu open public range is scarcely more thar half what 1t once was or what it Iigh easily be again under careful rrgulc : tiop." Some stock men have. to tht , exclusion of others, possessed them l selves of the stragetic positiols-'ha is, the lands controlling the str3ams , springs, and other watering places
 and by this means have secured tenn porary control of the adjoining grazing lands. Charges of fraudulent entr,
 have led to litigation Great Grea
 have been illegally fenced. Again stock owners, notably sheep an1 C. ttl'
 Den, have defended their confli stin:
 claims by forse of arms, causing SC rious loss of property and even of fife
 Obviously such conditions 'hould t' : corrected by law. The remedy .youl' , seem to be to apply to the openoIubii } range the regulations already ei vern ing the forest reserves. This conclu } sion Is strengthened not only by tn,
 success attending the forest reserve : policy, but also by the effect 0 ) fencing the public grazing lands :. though illegal, this fencing has in mos l cases greatly improved the condition C | the area inclosed. Care, however ]. must be taken to avoid the application 3 of sweeping and ironclad regulation | 10 an area so vast and to condition r so different The investigations O [ Public Lands Commission show tha 5 immediate application of any inflexi : ble rule to all grazing lands aiI @. re 2 gardiess of local conditions or grazin; 2 values, would be disastrous. and tha q improvement must be sought .hroLgl
 the gradual introduction into each iC cality of such form of control as l specifically suited to 1t.
 In his message, already ref erred tC ! the President says:
 'sThe best use of the public graZin ' lands requires the careful examinatio z and classification of these lands in q . der to give each settler land eEcugh i l. support his family and no more. Whil
 this work is being done, and until th
 lands are settled, the Governmen
 should take control of the open range under reasonable regulations suited [ | local needs, following he general 70 !, icy already in successful operation O f the forest reserves"
 . should the policy thus suggested b b established by law great good woui d undoubtedly result.