The Glenwood post., 1907-04-27
SIDfuGHTS. ON
RESERVE ISSUE
n0ntroSe Editor Outlines haay
Benefits Of Forestry Service
to Cattle and Sheep Owa-
erS IN New Way
FURTHER ENCLOSURES FAVORED

The Montrose Piess, one Of the
clean. conservative and sane news
papers of the state, has Investigated
the workings of the national forest,
otherwise known as the forest reser YES
and thus describes the advantages of
the system to the stockmen:
Just at this period of the history of
our government when one may obtain
legal right to cut timber on certain
parts of public land. but may not ON
certain other parts; when one may
build and maintain fences on certain
territories but is liable to prosecution
for the same acts on like territories
elsewhere; where even the grass is
protected in certain localities to GER
users, the public mas right to know
who can grant these privileges.
where the grantor gets the right, and
how to get in line to receive these
benefits.
The highest law of the land invests
in congress the absolute disposition of
the public land within the United
States. The supreme court has con-
frmed this power to congress time
after time. A long, bloody war was
fought over this national question and
decided against the rights Of states
and in favor of a strong central gov
ernment
Passing over the history of the de-
velopment, congress vested with the
president of the United States the
right to set aside certain territories
which are now known as national fofs
ests. In accordance with this act, 18
national forests, either wholly or in
part. have been established within
Colorado. The primary motive in
their establishment was the preserv-
ing of perpetual timber supply.
But the very nature of things
makes it impossible to separate the
timber question, with all it's various
phases and difficulties from the graz
ing question.
The management of the forest
reserves, as they were then called. was
delegated to the secretary of the in
terror by the act of June 4, 1897. 1t
empowered him to make such rules
and regulations as will insure the OBJ
jects Of such reservations.
The act also provides that the vio-
lations of such rules and regulations
shall be punished as provided for in.
an act Of June 4. 1883, "a fine of not
more than $780," or Imprisonment
''for not more than twelve months, or
BOTH"
The act of February 1, 1905, trans
fers to the secretary of agriculture the
management of the forests. Up to
the time forest regulations were made
the users of the public range could
claim only suffrage. They had nc
rights that anyone could be legally
forced to respect, and this applies to
range outside of the national forests
today. Should sheep owner con
clude to use range, always before used
by cattle no one had right to pre-
vent it. Should large capitalists de-
eide to bring in large bunches Of cattle
or sheep and starve out the local
owners they had a perfect legal right
TO do 30. The only law was the law
of might, and who can tell how many
lives were lost. to say nothing Of the
stock slaughtered, because some men
were able to. do it.
It is not necessary to 70 back to the
days of the frontier, neither need we
20 to Wyoming or Texas for examples.
We remember the loss Of sheep at the
state bridge and of cattle on the West
Muddy in Delta county few years
ago. We remember the mutteI rings
that reached even to Washington q
year ago from the Cimarrou. We re.
member trouble occurring near Kan
nah creek twice last winter. We
know OF an owner getting notice to
move his flock on Log Hill mesa this
spring, and numbers of other instances
are fresh In the minds Of all who are
acquainted with the conditions, all
because no one had authority under
the law to hear grievances. settle dis
putes, provide punishment, etc.
On the national forests the regnla
tions require that all stock be grazed
under permit. Last year and thii
year fses are charged for the privilege
J Of running stock thereon,
It matters mot that Senator Fultor
lot Oregon says that there h no Law