The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-07-01
FoR sToCkllEN

S||jIiIRYlleYEaR FoR sTockllEk
sNasioaal Forest Reserves Have been
Used ~ ssockmea % First Time
n Hears.
washington, June 24-To the
Western stockmen the present spring
has been one Of the most trying in
many years. This is especially true Of
the Rocky Mountain region where the
q has been u~nseasonably late
with severe snow storms long after
the ordinary period. on many of
the lambings grounds there the
snow was SO deep that it
was impossible to reach them,
and, in consequence, the Landing
operations were transferred to other
locations where the surroundings
were not altogether satisfactory.
The extremely cold, windy weather
has also kept the green grass from
starting as early as usual, in conse-
uueuce of which, the ranges have
been fully a month late. When the
usual time arrived for turning the
stock into the open ranges from the
feed lots there was very little grass
available, and as the stockmen had
used up all their supply of hay, the
stock, especially the cattle suffered
somewhat for want of feed.
In New Mexico the sheepmen made
strong plea to the Forest Service
to allow them to take some of their
herds into the Pecos National Forest
which has been closed against sheep
grazing for several years. The clos
ing of this Forest to sheep was owing
to the watershed interests involved,
Y together with the question of pro-
81 tecting the young growth of timber
which is coming forward on that For
est. However, the condition was so
! serious that after carefully weighing
the question, the Forester suspended
for ! time the prohibition against
sheep and $4,000 sheep will be allow
ed to enter that Forest to Craze until
such time as the conditions on the
outside ranges become normal, which
Is hoped will be as Don as the SUM
mel rains set In early in July.
The stockmen using the public
ranges adjoining several other Ma
tional Forests in New Mexico have
made urgent requests to the Forest
FER obe allowed to take their herds
into those Forests for feed. As those
Forests are already stocked to their
full capacity, the reuests could not
be granted lest those already using
them would be injured and their sup
ply of feed cut short.
IN several Forests in Wyoming and
Colorado the fees for lambing priv
ssileges5on National Forests will be re-
funded to the sheepmen because OF
their inability to 3 the Landing
9f0nnds.sI addition to this the sea
son will be extended 4 month later
An. several instances SO as to make up,
- Tar as possible for the enforced re-
sduction IN the early spring period.
On Ill the Forests where the win
ter ana spring losses have reduced
tho stockmen's herds below the num-
her FOR which they have been grant
= ! permit. and they do not desire
zstoEpurchase other stock to make up
their8number, they will be allowed to
Amend their application FOL; the ex-
sAct number which they will Craze
without prejudicing their appltca-
lions In the future.
II will, therefore. be readily seen
that the regulations of the Forest
Service for handling grazing matters
are sumclently flexible to take care
emergencies and meet all unusual
S conditions which may occur from time
80 time Further than this, the man
@ner III which the ~ofiicersSof the For
stlsgsfyice have taken hold of this
nSttsrssproves that they are always
aliyesto.the interest Of the stockmen
sndsnSre than wiliingsto do al IN
thsir power to ssaprotsct them from
.yloGeegs
A.Bisasing illustration Of the care
the@stockmen take OF their animals
~ ~noticedson e recent trip Of For
ct omcers ove some Of he ranges
inltsGsoulesalo and Wyoming. The
been SHARED ct the usual
tlns.but55ssthe season q very
l1lj lllkvard1 and theaanimais a rather
D6of Oonditi0n. to meet Unusual
lenrWnamam ~ tho uhoonuon haH