Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-08

realize the necessity for some concerted
action to counterfeit the damage done by
these ownerless herds and stand ready.
with the department at their back. to CO.
operate with the stockmen in abating the
nuisance. To the man who finally discov-
ers an effective method to dispose OF this
problem, the thanks of the forest service
and Of every stockman in every state west
Of the Missouri river viii be due.
X
Theoretically, 1t seems a very simple
proposition" declared an old and expert
enced stockman, now in the employ of
Uncle Sam, ''but practically it is just the
reverse"
On the ranges of many Of the national
forests the supervisors have been at their
wits end for several years endeavoring
to devise a method to meet the difficulty.
The one serious obstacle in the path or
successfully dealing with these herds Is
the inadequacy Of the estray laws now en-
forced in the different states. Under the
circumstances. the following plan has
been recommended to meet the conditions
existing in the national forest preserves:
IF the presence Of the horses Is serious
ly damaging the national forest range, and
public sentiment favors such action. the
supervisor may, upon petition Of major
ity of the permittees of a grazing district
allow the horses to be gathered and dis
posed of according to the state or terri
torial laws. In such cases the forest serv-
ice will, upon recommendation from the
supervisor, cooperate in the construction
of corrals and fences for the purpose of
capturing the HOSES.
Forest officers may drive unpermitted
horses from the national forests at any
time, but If the owners Of the horses are
known and the ownership acknowledged
the owner should be allowed to adjust the
matter by paying a grazing fee. If he re-
fuses to apply for permit, then trespass
charges should be brought against him
and the case conducted according to in
structions.
Unbranded horses may be handled ac-
cording to the state estray laws, but for
est officers cannot be allowed to gather
such horses for the purpose of using or
selling them, nor can they be allowed to
son for corralling unclaimed horses.
1.-THE policy of the forest service will
therefore be to cooperate with the stock
men Of the state. or the territorial au-
In disposing Of wild horses on the national
forest ranges, but the present laws and
regulations do not admit Of independent
action by the forest service"
-.
The wild horse problem is only one Of
the many which stockmen have to con-
tend with which the government is try
ing in one way or another to solve on
the ranges Of the national forests Pred
atory animals, such as wolves. coyotes,
mountain loins and wild cats, do thou
sands Of dollars damage to stock each
year in all parts of the country. On
some ranges forest officers have to con-
tend with rustlers, who sometimes sue
coed in stealing the great part of the
stock which the predatory animals may
not steal. Poisonous plants are another
nuisance which give the stockmen con-
siderable trouble in many parts Of the
country.
Uncle Sam has always shown a DISPOSE
ton to cooperate with the stockmen in
combating these nuisances. In fact. he
is doing better than merely meeting the
stockmen half way in the work. On many
Of the national forest ranges for the past
year rangers and guards have been as
signed to the work Of hunting and trap
ping. with the sole aim of killing off the
animals that prey upon stock. The work
has met with marked success. and hum
dreds Of wolves and coyotes have sue
cumbed to the bullets and the poison of
the hunters. Each animal killed means a
decided saving to the sheep industry. for
it is estimated that one wolf averages
about 81 600 damage each year.
: Forest officers are cooperating with the
stock associations to stop the stealing of
live stock and run the rustlers out of the
country. The war on poisonous plants
has been carried on for more than a year
by the forest service. in cooperation with
the bureau Of plant industry. and while
the investigations have just been begun, 1t
is already seen that their growth can
be checked in many states.
If it is possible to check the wild horse
nuisance as easily as the other troubles
which have bothered the stock interests.
both the stockmen and forest officers will
find the western ranges rid OF another
serious question which helps retard prog
ress in the business.
A letter. in which the business acumen
Of the writer was apparent. outlined a