Amador ledger., 1907-03-15
Meeting of Cattle Men.


Stauislaus forest reserve, which in
cludes that portion of reserve lana
within the boundaries of Amador
county, was In jackson Wednesday
and Thursday. His visit here was for
the purpose of meeting the stookmen
who aie interested IN the grazing of
stock within the forest reserve, and
explaining, TO them the scope and
purport of the regulations covering
this matter. The cattle men gathered
in full force, about every man who
has been ranging stock in the noun
tains during the brief summer season.
being represented either in person or
by proxy. The cattle business is one
of great Importance in this county.
Thousands of head are annually
pastured on the ranges extending
from Antelope to Alpine county every
season. Heretofore, the cattle have
roamed over government land without
let or hInderance; no monetary COM
pensation has been required for the
privilege. With the establishment of
forest reservations, ana the appoint
ment of supervisor for each, string
ent regulations have been formulated
on this subject. A fee per head is
exacted of the owners, and everyone
wishing to use the forest land for
grazing purposes must first make
application to the supervisor for a
permit. Failing to do so, he is liable
to both civil and criminal prosecu-
tion.
The cattle men were naturally
anxious to find out all they could in
regard to a matter which concerned
them so vitaily, and hence muster
ed In strength.
meeting was held in the super
visors' room in the AFTERNOON, and
the situation was explained, The
organization of cattlemen' s associa-
tion was recommended, and the meet
ing was adjourned until Thursday
morning at ten O'Clock, to perfect the
organization.
Tho government charges 30 cents
per head per season for cattle grazing
within the reservation. No one is
permitted to Craze more than $50
head. Small cattle owners are allow
ed to unite in permit to the mum ber
of $50 head. The payment of the :,5
cent fee applies only to the cattle in
excess of the capacity of the owners
tee simple or patented land. For
instane if man has sufficient land nf
his own to pasture all his stock, he Is |
not required to pay anything to Inc
government, or to make application
fol permit. If he has enough land |
OF his own to carry 100 head, and |
grazes 200, he must pay for tho extra
100. Neither private nor government |
land is fenced in that region. 1t is |
inpracticable to maintain fences,
owing to the heavy snowfall, the
weight of snow destroying fences III
one or two seasons. This being so the
cattle from one range, will stray on
the lands of another. This works
both ways, aud so is not taken into
account. An owner having enough |
land of his own, is not liable though
some OF his cattle should stray on to
the forest reserve land. The capacity
pf the private lands to maintain the
number of cattle claimed is matter
subject to scrutiny.
The charge of 35c per head, as
applied to tho mountain pasturage, is
considered little steep. The season
OF pastuIage does not average more
than four months, and when the ex
pense of driving the cattle to and fro
is taken into account, it is believed
this government tax will have the
effect of driving small owners from
the mountain ranges.
No sheep are permitted to range on
the western slope of the reserve.
They ale allowed only ON the eastern
slope. .'a .ss:r.i
thursday the stockmen met accord
ing to program, aEd perfected the
organization. The officers elected
are, e. l.. Culbert, chairman; W. r.
Finn, secretary; Geo. Kirkwood.
treasurer. Advisory board, &. Bamert
Van Wrinkle and A. Caminetti.
he territory covered by this
organization comprises all of Amador
county, and portion of FL Dorado
county, there being no similar
association in our northern neighbor.
Calaveras county. Is included In
another association.
The object of this organization is
to protect the interests of the stock
men; to determine by mutual under
standing what oition of the forest
reserve lands each shall be allotted,
the area each shall ba entitled to, |
according to the number of cattle
pastured, and other matters that !
naturally fall within the scope of
suoh regulations.