Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-06-25
Unusual Weather Conditions in West
Met by Action Of Forest Service
Officers.

OmceIS.
To the western stockman the pres
ent spring has been one Of the most
trying many years. This is espee-
ially true of the Rocky Mountain
region where the season has been un-
seasoaayly iate with severe snow
storms long after tie ordinary per-
iod. On may of the hmbing grounds
there the snow was so deep that 1t
was impossible to reach them, and In
consequence the lambing operations
were transferred to other locations
where the surroundings were not al
together satisfactory.
The extremely cold windy, weather
has. also kept the green grass from
starting as early as usual, in conse-
been fully a month fate. When the
usual time arrived for turning the
stock onto 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
a 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
together with the question Of protect
ing the young growth of timber
which is coming forward on that for.
est. However, the question was SC
. serious that after carefully weighing
the question, that the Forester sus.
pended for. a time the prohibition
against sheep and $4,000 sheep vii
be allowed to enter the Forest tt
Craze until the conditions on the out
side ranges become normal, which il
hoped will be as soon as the summer
rains set in early in July.
The stockmen using the public rams
es adjoining several other NatiOna
Forests in New Mexico have made
urgent requests to the Forester to b,
allowed to take their herds into thes'
Forests for feed As those Forests
are already stocked to their full eapa
city, the requests could not be grant
led lest those already using then
would be injured and their supply o
feed cut short.
in several Forests in Wyoming an(
Colorado the fees for lambing priv
iIeges will be returned to the sheep
men because of their inability to us
the lambing grounds. In addition t.
this the season will be extended
month later in several instances s
as to make up a star as possible, TO
the enforced reduction in the earl
spring period.
On all the Forests where the win
ter and spring losses have reduced tn
stockmen's herds below the humble
Tor which they have been granted
permit, and they do not desire to pur
chase other stock to make up thei
number, they will be allowed t.
amend their application for the ex
act number which they will graz
without prejudicing their applica
tions in the future.
1t will therefore, be readily see
that the regulations of the Fores
Service for handling grazing matter
are sufficiently flexible to take care q
emergencies and meet all unusual co
ditiOns which may arise from time t
time. Further than this, the name
in which the officers of the FOres
Service have taken hold of this mat
ter proves that they are always aliv
to the interests of the stoclmen all
more than wiling to do all in thei
power to protect them from losses.
A pleasing illustration of the car
the stOckmen take of their animal
was noticed in a recent trip of Fores
Service officers over some of tn
ranges in Colorado and Wyoming
The sheep had been sheared at th
usual time, but as the season wa
very backward and some of the an;
mails in rather poor condition to NEE
unusual storms, the sheepmen ha'
provided small canvas blankets O
covers for the sheep. After shearin
these covers were fastened to tn