Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1909-03-26
A Merry sheep Wa

merry SAeeP Wa
There seems to he II merry war raging
over the allotment Of grazing permits
in the Bruneau addition to the Hum.
boldt National Forest reserve in the
northern part of this county. The
permits granted the fore part of this
month excluded several Basques who
W or run bands of sheep that have
graZed in that section for several years.
The sheepmen who were given the
best of the deal conferred with Clifford
Pinchot, chief of the Forest Service, ut
Ogden and he ruled that the transient
owners of sheep and cattle are not
entitled to allotments on the national
forests i'll Nevada to the exclusion Of
the small herds owned by ranchmen
or other who are property owners. This
ruling excludes several hundred thous-
I'M sheep owned by the Basques. The
Busques carried their fight before tho
Forest Service authorities Mt Washing.
ton and seem to be making favorable
progress, according to the following
letter, written by the associate chief of
the Forest Service to Senator Nixon,
and received by Mr.. ID. d. Sabala this
morning:
Hon. George S. Nixon,
United Ststes Senate
Dear Senator Nixon:
referring to III conversation today
regarding the grazing of stock upon the
recent addition to the Humboldt Ma
tional Forest. The following is a copy
OF the instructions furnished the District
Forester at Ogden for the handling of
grazing matters upon hat addition
during the coming year.
The Secretary of Agriculture has
authorized the issuance of permits DUR
ing the season of 1909 for the grazing of
all cattle, horses, sheep and goats upon
the Bruneau addition to the Humboldt
National Forest, which have been graz
ed regularly upon the range during the
past.
The grazing periods and rates already
established for the Humboldt National
Forest will apply to this range. All
persons pho hare gya=ed their st0d;
regularly upon this range during the
past will be entitled TO permits for lie
season oJI9o0, but persons who have not
occupied this range during the past
should not be allowed to establish graz
ing rights by securing permits this year
unless they are bona fide settlers who
would be entitled to consideration ms
class "A" applicants.
A careful reading of these instructions
should convince any one that there must
he a mistake somewhere in their inter
probation. 1t has never been the policy
OF this service to take snap judgement
upon the stockmen by making cuts or
reductions in their herds without giving
them notice in advance so they could
make all necessary arrangements in
their business to meet the new condi-
tions. The gentlemen who arc here from
your State may rest assured that all
persons who have regularly used the
range in the new addition in the mast
will be taken care of during the graz
ing season or 1909. Whatever cuts or
reductions may be necessary to properly
protect the range and insure all permit
tees IA fair amount of the range feed in
tho future, will be made at the close of
the grazing season, and sufficient notice
given to all concerned so they may act
accordingly and make their plans to
meet the situation.
This matter will be taken up with the
District Forester ut once and if the Sup
eryisor has misunderstood his i~nstruc-
tions steps will he taken to correct any
statement made by him to the contrary.
Very sincerely yours,
OvERToN w. PRICE
Associate Forastar