Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1907-03-13
|ITOCKMAN VIEWS GRAZING QUESTION
Old Stock Raiser Gives His Views Of Fencing Of Public Domain---Says He Finds It More Profitable To Ranae Under Fence.

cd fences, more where timber was scarce. In certain leasing measures, it is estimated that from ono to two cents per acre would be a fair charge to the stockmcn by the government; say lis cents, and allow D acres Co each animal, which is considered ample in most portions of this territory, the cost of fencing a tract of sufficient size to carry 300 head would be, together with the lease of land on ten year average. per acre, per year, less than three cents, making tho cost of feed and fence, per head, per year, well within $l.00. What more do you want. with all the protection that goes with it1
 The original intent of the homestead act, as it is generally understood, was that tract of leo acres would prove an ample living for each family. Where is there an unoccupied quarter section in Arizona that will do it. Now it is contemplated in some of the propos. cd lease bills to extend this tract. with all it's restrictions in the form of n lease and make it of sufficient size to carry from three to five hundred head of stock Although n large mum Der of frauds have been committed under the homestead act, no one as entire universe, as fig feared in any lease proposition, much less where the mcnt. The argument that vicious measure could or might he passed, is no argument or reason for condcmninp the whole of any proposed legislation
 nor for the reason that certain law
 have remained unchanged for years
 that should not now he changed oi
 modified How many men in all line
 of business, do we see going to the wal
 every day because they will pcrsis
 in an,iquatcd business methods.
 There is a reason, and one of vas
 importance to the whole people, wh.
 the government should assume nor
 specific control over the public do
 main, that has not been general : forward in this controversy that Q bringing back that portion Of
 called grazing land (and there ar
 large tracts of it that will always b worthless for anything clsc) to som'
 where near its former state of produ ' tiycncss. There are few people WI realize the terrible destruction cause bv the system of allowing vast nun bers of different classes Ot animals . roam at will as in the past. Dcpred U lions of stock due to ovcr'graZli have damaged the ranges to the eNte l. of reducing their carrying capaci'y II least one.haf. resulting in the damaI n ,o il national asset that can hardly u computcd in dollars and cents, al n will take years of careful and ludiclo IT supcryision to bring them back 'e even portion of their original sta a of productiveness.
 '" A lsaso system would make bet' '' class of citizens. II is fact tf ' young boys believe and are tans
 that other peoples range stock !" their legitimate prey. The same b' Il" migbt return to you your money pu Vt if lost. but your unbranded and OH
 t;mes branded stock. not much
 =, There is no class of property m
 world. except none, that is so
 the mercy of the evil docr as ra' au s,ock. Why not give them some :. ,ce,ionY Give each man enough gro'
 ,o carry sufficient number or s' ,od ,o provide comfortably for h''ns'''
 f,miIy. There is plenty for all v u;sb it land that under no concciV' u" conditions can ever be used for
 thing else but grazing, so he can n tect himself against the rns'ler' NC huu and numerous other drawp' " ana then let Uncle Sam step m os his big stick aud say" will nov p''
 you to destroy one of my prne'p"' ~ or sources by over-stocking'"
 inc There is no well informed pc .ast who has ever doubted the s'v''' Inc ity of preserving the natnra' TOT ana, n ;s true the trees havo the'r P"' cor. porform, but when all IS done anu ar. if still remains for each '""''
 smear of grass to hold each drop "i , for long enough to be absorbed ps ,rsa crouud. to prevent disastrous "' n,c If this be true, what has been "o' ,bo far by the bureau of forestry ,.o, h,rdlv be termed the entering w