The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-12-12
ENCOURAGE GRAZING
ON FORESTS
FOREST SERVICE ISSUES REPORT
ON CONDITIONS ON MA
TtoNAl RANGES.

4 summary Of the grazing business
on the national forests of Montana for
the last fiscal year shows that 2.eis
permits We're issued. allowing the
grazing of 1i4.0s0 head of cattle and
1880 horses. while a36 permits were
issued authorizing the grazing Of
SOS. $40 head Of sheep and go head of
goats.
on the basis of the statistics con-
tanned in the last year book issued by
the department OF agriculture nearly
Il per cent OF the cattle. over per
cent OF the horses and mules. and over
10 per cent of the sheep which were
owned in the state of Montana on
January !. 1909 were provided with
range within national forests.
That such proportions of stock
rrazed in Montana are provided range
i'm the national forests. is not realized
by many people. for a good part of the
Montana forests contain lands whicn
are not at all suitable tor grazing.
Fifty-four per cent of the land in
cluded within the national forests If
the state of Montana is in the Bitter
Root. Blackfoot. Cabinet, Flathead.
Kootenai, Lewis and Clark. Lolo and
Missouri national forests. all situated
III UbTtHtGIi anu WtSttfH tpii-
tiguous to the line of British Column
bia. and to the eastern slope OF the
Bitter Root mountains. These forests
contain so little LAND adapted to the
grazing of livestock that the numbers
Of stock for which permits have been
issued during the past II months hav.
been but little over 70 per cent OF the
numbers which were authorized by the
secretary Of acricultur. for the rr-
.ind. few stock owners desiring 10 avai!
themselves Of the privileges offered.
These figures. while throwing con
siderable light upon one Of the uses
to which the national forests are put.
are not adequate in themselves to
show all that the forest service is do
ing 10 secure a full utilization of for
est resources. or to improve range
conditions. Ranges We're equitably di
vided among the different permittces
so as to prevent friction IN their use.
and steps were taken to improve their
value to the stockmen; losses of stock
were Investigated to determine the
cause and probable cure. predatory an
imals were killed. and prairie dogs
were exterminated. While no extern
sive range Investigations have been
Initiated in Montana. such investiga-
tions are being carried on i'm adjoin-
ing states and their value To Montana
will be equally great
The number of predatory animals de-
stroycd by forest officers in the year
was q bears. IS wolves. AL coyotes. 6s
wildcats. and 10 lynx. and the reduc-
ton In the loss of stock was affected
By the killing of these animals went
n long way toward offsettng the graz
ing fees laid by stock owners. The
prairie dog work is, as yet. In an eN-
perimentai stage and only n few hun
dred acres were treated. but the sue
cess of the work has been demon
stratad and numerous offers of CO.
operative assistance have been re-
ceived from interested stock owners.
Many Montana stock growers took
advantage of the opportunity afforded
by the forest service Ia secure Incl
dental uses of the range essential to
the proper control of their business,
such as the enclosure of pasture lands.
construction of drift fences. corrals.
etc. Two hundred permits We're is
sued during the year allowing the en-
closure of $1,000 acres of land. and
right-of-way for fences, amounting to
% miles or these permits IS were
without charge while the remaining lse
We're issued upon the payment of II
nominal rental for the lands enclosed
The total number Of permits now in
force is al. involving 81 000 acres of
land. and 50 miles of risht-of-
Unlike the stackmen in many of the
other national forest states. Montana
stock growers have been SLOW To avail
themselves of the opportunity To as
sist in the administration of the graz
ing business which is offered them by
the forest service. Any organization
Of stock owners whose membership
comprises majority al the users of
forest or division Of a forest may
secure recognition which will entitla
them 10 the right TO receive notice of
proposed action. and an opportunity
To be heard in reference To- the in
crease or decrease IN the number of
stock 10 be allowed the following sea-
son. the division of the range between
different classes of stock; or their
owners. or the adoption of special
rules to meet local conditions. the rec
concentrations of an advisory board
being adopted in all cases where prop
er consideration for the rights of nom
members and OF other interests will
permit. Despite this opportunity To
participate. in an administration which
Is 50 important To their interests. but
one organization has applied for of
fetal recognition thus far although
every encouragement has been extend
ed by the forest service
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