Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-09-02
THE NATIONAL
FORESTS AND
THEIR USE
COUNTLESS HERDS CRAZE
ON GOVERNMENT LAND
Annual Report Shows More
Stock Has Been Accommo-
dated Than Ever Before in
History of Service,

Washington, d. G., Sept. 1.-The
annual report of grazing on the ma
tional forests for the fiscal year 1906
1907, which has Just been completed.
shows that 6,657,0S3 sheep and goats
and l,200,15S horses and cattle grazed
under permit on the ranges The pre-
vous years totals were: Sheen and
goats, 1853, 100; horses and cattle,
1,025,t4S. The total receipts from
grazing permits for the year we're
1857 ,S56.S3 For the preceding year
the amount was $514,692.S7
During the year lust closed the re-
port shows that 23,G62 applicants for
pasture were approved, and of these
applications 21,7S6 paid the fees and
were granted permits, That was %
per cent. Last year there we're 49,
040 applications and 1858 permits.
or 92 per cent The fact that the per-
centage of permits was the same in
both years tends to show that the
method of transactig the business IS
systematic and that great fluctuations
need not be expected
The increase in the number of stock
on the ranges for this year is due al
most wholly to the Increased area of
the range, and does not mean that the
pastures are crowded more this year
than last. The total area of the for
ests Is far greater this year than last,
and a greater number of stock can be
accommodated without an increase
per acre. The area Of the national for
ests of the United States and Alaslta
amounts to 156,0O0,000 acres. but
stock is not pastured on all the forests.
In some regions cattle and horses pre-
dominate, in others sheep and goats
The natural conditions of the land
throughout the mountains of the west
ern states are such that boundaries OF
the national forests of necessity in
clude many open parks chiefly valu-
able for grazing. The importance of
the live stock industry demands that
these ranges be fulN and fairly util-
lied in the interests of the commune
ties which DEPEND 2App i. The graz
ing regulations Of the forest service
are intended to meet the demand with
the utmost. care, so as to insure the
people of the west the continued use
and constant Improvement of the ma
tional forest range.
Stockmen who wish to make use If
the range apply for permits. They
state the kind of stock they have, the
quantity and location of the range
they want and the officers in charge
make allotments, apportioning the
available pasture among the appli-
cants on as equitable a basis as prac-
ticable.
Many stockmen living on the bor-
ders of forests have ranges of their
own. but to reach it with stock 1t Is
frequently necessary or convenient tn
drive across portions of the forest To
do this they are required to obtain 4
permit, but no charge is made for t.
This year S33 such permits were
granted and 36.S07 horses and cattle
and 2,051 $50 sheep and goats crossed.
Last year 269 permits of that kind
were issued and 12 1925 horses and cat
tie and 500 $40 sheep crossed.
Sometimes stockmen who live near
forests or who have stock near them
allow their stock to drift across the
line. If this Is done carelessly. neg
ligently or wilfully it is considere |
trespass, and the offender Is subject to
fine and may also be liable to pay
damages. The number of trespass
cases this year was 1S3,, and t6S of
these settled without going to court
that Is. they paid the amount agreed
upon as just The remaining fifteen
had not yet settled at the close OF the
llNtdl year UuA u II b'llNNth AiieiA ili'NN
of them will do as the others have
done. There is little disposition to go
TO law or make trouble over such
matters. The total damages collected
for trespass for the year was s5,576.
- Another kind of permit Is issued in
certain cases Sometimes a man owns
land inside a forest, or partly sur
rounded by it. and rather than fence
1t to keep his stock In he signs an
agreement that II his stock Is allowed
to Craze i'm the forest other stock In
the forest may Craze on his land Ar
rangements of that kind are frequent,
and are often very convenient and sat
isfactory. He simply swaps his range
for an equal amount Of grazing outside
his lines, and It is all used In COM
mon. This year 6l5 such permits
were issued for 1854 horses and
cattle and 1882 sheep and goats.
Last year there were 244 similar per-
mits and the stock affected consisted
OF 1888 horses and cattle and 1lS,-
400 sheen and boats.
The business relations between the
stockmen and forest officers through
out the entire grazing region have
been pleasant and satisfactory. No Sc
rious trouble or misunderstanding Oc-
ourrod nnvxvherp during the wear,