The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-14
GRAZING ON THE
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Number of Stock Allowed on
the National Forests and
Amount Paid.
INCREASE FOR FISCAL YEAR
SYSTEMATIC METHODS OF THE
SERVICE.
INCREASE FOR FISCAL YEAR
Especial to The HeraId.l

Especial to The Herdid.)
Washington, Aug. 13.-The forest
service has issued the following state
ment concerning its report upon graz
ing in the national forests for the fiscal
year 19O6-19O7, which has just been
completed.
The total area of all the forests is
over 156. 1000. 900 acres. but stock is not
pastured on all of them. Sheep, goats,
horses and cattle are the kinds of
stock entering into the statistics. in
some regions horses predominant; IN
others, sheep and goats.
Stockmen who wish to make use OF
the range must apply for permits.
They are required to state the kind of
stock they have, the quantity and 10
cation of the range they want, and the
officers in charge make allotmentS, ap
portioning the available pasture among
the applicants on as equitable basis
as practicable.
Permits Granted.
During the year just closed the re
port shows that 1852 applicants for
pasture were approved and of these
applicants 21.7S8 paid the fees, aid
were granted permits. That was "
per cent Last year there were 15.C4O
applications, and 1888 permits; % per
cent The fact that the percentage of
permits was the same in both years
tends to show that the method of
transacting the business is systematic,
and that great fluctuations need not be
expected.
This year the total number Of sheep
nd n.a RAJ
6.657. OS3, and of horses and cattle l.
20O15S.
Last year the totals were: Sheep and
goats, 4,263, 100, and horses and cattle
| 1 ,025, 14S.
Increase in Number.
| The increase in the number of stock
on the ranges for this year is Que al
most wholly to the increased area of
! the range. and does not mean that the
pastures are crowded this year more
| than last. The total area of the forests
/ is several millions acres this year more
4 than last. and a greater number of
stock can be accommodated without an
! increase per acre.
/ Many stOckmen living on the borders
/ of forests have range of their 1wn.
/ but to reach it with stock it is fire.
! quentiy necessary or convenient to
/ drive across portions of the forests. To
do this a permit must be obtained, hut
no charge is made for it This year S33
such permits were granted. and 36,s07
| horses and cattle, and 2,051, $50 sheep
| and goats crossed. Last year go per-
mits of that kind were issued and r.,
/ 626 horses and cattle, and 692, $40 sheep
! crossed.
Fines for Negligence.
Sometimes stockmen who live near
| them
their stock to drift across the lines.
If this is done, negligently, carelessly
or wiIfully. it is considered trespass.
and the offender is subject to fine.
| and may also be liable to pay dam
ages. The number of trespass cases
this year was hS3 and 1bS of the tres
passers settled without going into
! court, that is, they paid the amount
agreed upon as just. The remaining
| fifteen had not been settled at the close
of the fiscal year, but is believed that
most 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 this year was 1915.
Convenient Arrangements.
Another kind of permit is issued in
| certain cases. Sometimes a man OWES
! ldilu lHStut d lOiCSl, VI parity sui =
rounded by it, and rather than fence it
to keep his stock in. he signs an agree
ment that if his stock is allowed to
| Craze in the forest other stock in the
! forest may Craze on his land. Arrange
! ments of that kind are frequent, and
! are often very convenient and satiSfac-
| tory. He simply swaps his range for
an equal amount of grazing without
| his lines. and it is all used in common.
This year els such permits were is
sued, for 1924 horses and cattle and
| 1872, 622 sheep and goats. Last year
there were pa similar permits. and the
| stock affected consisted of 1888 horses
and cattle, and rs, 400 sheep and goats.
Receipts for Fiscal Year.
| The total receipts from grazing per-
mits for the fiscal year just closed
were 1857 ,S56.S3. For the preceding
year the amount was S514 692.S7.
! The business relations between
stockmen and forest officers, through
out the entire grazing region, have
been pleasant and satisfactory No