East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-05-11

E. A. Granjean, assistant super
visor Of the national forests in Ida
no yesterday stated that the depart
ment at Washington will next year
reduce class A limit on sheep to
1900 head or one band instead Of
two bands of $500 or 5000 which are
at present exempt from reduction in
cases where the owners are old oc-
rnrants of the range and own q con-
siderable amount of agricultural
land.
Mr.. GrandJean says:
at is believed that the national
forests will contribute the most to
the general prosperity of the coun-
try when their use for grazing is so
divided that each person will be al
lowed a permit only fol the number
of stock necessary to insure him the
means for making a living for his
family, or which will be fed during
portion Of the year from the pro-
ducts Of his homestead. When the
grazing is divided SO that the maxi
mum rumber Of prosperous homes
are being sustained, then II would
not better conditions to make further
reductions IT. the number of stock
grazed by each owner for the pur-
pose of allowing new men to come
in.
Therefore. it Is important that the
class A limit be placed high enough
to afford the necessary protection to
present occupants Of the range, but
not so high as to prevent the en-
trance of new settlers while the
range would afford a larger number
Of ranch owners the means OF sup
porting their families.
"The present occupants of the
range owning more than the class A
limit should not be required to re-
duce the number of their stock ex-
cept for two purposes, viz to stop
damage from overgrazing. or to
make room for new class A settlers.
A new man purchasing stock with
out also acquiring possession OF
farming lands cannot be considered
as entitled to share in the grazing
privilege. The mere purchase OF
stock without also acquiring posses
s.on Of farming lands cannot be
considered as entitled to share In the
grazing privilege. The mere pur'
chase OF stock which has been graz
ed upon the national forest does no
necessarily carry with It any right t
share in IN, use of the national for
est range. The entire plant consist
ing of the stock and ranches mus
+. purchased IN order to entitle
person TO a permit for the follow
ing year. Even then the transfer
the permit Is subject to the maxi
mum limit restrictions and does no
carry with it any special preference
which was given to the former own
er on account Of his prior use OF tn
range.
"a man owning stock and no
owning any lands, but who purchas
es hay for winter feeding. would b
entitled to a permit II he had Gus
tomarily used the range during tn
past, as also, would other regula
users, but unless he acquires title
farming lands, he must eventual
: be cut out to make room for tn
new settlers upon improved farmin
lands. A grazing right based onl
upon past use If the range Is M
transferable. A man who merel
purchased stock and has not used ii
range in the past or does not ow
farming lands that will be used
connection with his stock busine
cannot be admitted as a new class
Z applicant.
1.-THE conditions in this locality
\ present are such that many Of Il
4 farmers find 1t advantageous to sc
B their hay tc stcckmen who do n
4 own any lands, and as these stoc
3 men have been regular users of Il
z range they are entitled to permit
. There is no question, however, b
! that as the owners OF the farmii
Z lands become owners of stock al
! feed their stock during the wint
Z from the products of their lands,
! will be for the best interests Of t
Z country to give them a preferen
x over the former users who do n
Z own any lands.
Z Therefore, whatever reduction
-
! the number of stock is found nece
2 sary should fall heaviest on the lar
! owner Of sheep who does not o,
z any lands, who buys no hay and ru
~ his sheep on the desert during t
winter. Next heaviest on the lar
. owner Of sheep who does not o'
any lands but who huys hay a
- feeds during a portion of the WI
/ ter: and next on the large owr
who feeds his sheep upon his o.
lands during a portion of the vi
ter The circumstances in each cs
should always be considered a
such notifications made on the {
count of the residence of the ov
er and his priority in the use Of
range as is fair and equitable amo
T. No