The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-02-13
WOULD LEASE ARID
ANnS nv G

Quite a deal of commotion is be-
ing stirred up over the Territory and
indeed over the entire west by the
proposed leasing of the arid lands by
the Government to the stockme1. One
of the means of doing this has been
proposed by a correspondent of the
Denver Republican, who advocates
the leasing of the arid lands by the
section. His solution of the problem
is as follows:
Denver, Col, Feb. 9.-(To the Re
publical)-Lately there has beer We
~ much discussion as to the best me-
thod of making use of our public
lands embraced within the arid dis
trictS- Tne president recommends
the leasing of these lands to the stock
men, allowing them to fence them in
and control large tract in one body;
but there is great objection to this
plan of leasing. as it would in the fu-
ture, as in the past, exclude actual
settlers from locating upon and impro
wing these lands. 1t would be much
easier to keep the stockmen OFF these
lands before their occupancy than to
get them off after it is once establish
ed The government contemplates a
system of leasing these lands, a bet
ter plan would be to permit one per
son to occupy one section under lease
for five years at such rental as nay
be fixed by the government. allow
ing the lessee the privilege of making
such improvements upon the land as
he may desire to establish a home.
with the right of renewal of the lease
Or to prove up and secure title to
the land at the expiration of the term
of mis- lease. This system to apply on
ly to the arid, lon irrigable lands.
Under this system, 1 am confident,
most of the lands, in the arid region
would. in a brief time, find bona fide
settlers. The state of Colorado has
inaugurated a similar system of leas-
ing the state lands for grazing and
agricultural purposes. Grazing lands
are leased at a minimum yearly rental
Of from Eve to eight cents per acre
dllu dSllCuAluLo oil dAiQ at a
of 80 cents per acre, and this is found
to bring a large revenue to the state,
while all these state lands are being
eagerly sought after.
% the past four years 1 have been
in the employ of the state boGrd o.
land commissioners. during two o.
which have served as inspector O.
land appraiser IN the performance
of my duties which have taken me
over the greater portion of the state
the conditions surrounding the public
lands within the arid districts;A and
l find the general complaint of set
tiers who have attempted to- make
homes upon these dry lands to be
that it is impossible for. a person to
make a living from 100 acres. where
they might be able to sustain them
selves upon a full section under what
is termed ''dry farming"
Recently Denver has been visited
by the lately-organized dry farming
congress. Their discussion was a We
~ dry one, n 1 judge some of the
members applied to the person the ir-
rigating system before their discus
sions yer concluded.
Denver is not in an arid region and
is not a dry" town. However, l be
lieve the action of this congress will
greatly assist the dry farming advo-
Gates Inc be instrumental in settling
up much of the arid lands. Yet these
dry farming enthusiasts will find by
actual experience that a person can