The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-09
POTTER IS EAGER
TO PLEASE GROWERS
New Chief Forester Says De,
partment Wants to Hear
Grievances.
SHEEPMEN ARE INVITED
TO ADVISE WITH SERVICE
Believes Complete and Har-
monious Understanding Can
Finally Be Reached.
(Rv a stnn corresnondentN

(BN stan correspondent
OGDEN, Jan. S.-A. F. Potter, who
has been designated as the successor
of Clifford Pinchot, as chief forester,
addressed the woolgrowers' convention
this morning, before his train left for
Washington whittier he has been called
by the turn of affairs in the forest serv.
ice.
Mr. Potter declared that the depart
ment stands ready and willing to meet
the llockmasters at least half way If
the woolgrowers have any grievances
declared Mr.. Potter, the department is
eager TO find them out. The wOolgrow-
ers are invited to send to Washington
any committees they may appoint, and
they are invited to confer with forest
authorities in the field.
In substance Mr.. Potter said:
Secretary Wilson'S Message.
l feel that / am among friends. !
hope that | am, anyway. II was very
gratifying to me to hear the portions
OF President Goodings address pertain
ing TO the forestry department and Its
relations TO this association. / think that
there Is growing to be a better feeling
between The sheepmen and the forestry
officials The resolutions recently passed
at the convention OF the Idaho Wool
growers association In Caldwell indicate
] think tliat the forestry bureau is
improving and that we have been Sc
hope that the sheepmen and the forestry
officials and subordinates will work In
harmony for the best uses OF the ma
tional forests, the development OF the
When left Washington Secretary Will
son, In giving me Instructions. said TO
Mr.. Potter, and ] will leave matters in
your hands Go out there and talk with
them, They are good, people. They are are
way. Sec what is the matter. and try
TO hnd remedies. so that we can end
Mr.. Pinchot was also quite anxious
to be here. He told me so himself. He
wanted TO meet you and talk with you.
l know that he really did. But, OF
tanned by the Ballinger controversy and
other matters and could not be here. Mr..
Pinchot said that he wanted the sheep
men and the forestry officers to get to-
gether and work for the welfare OF the
whole west.
Now. it is quite likely that a num-
fore the joint congressional committee
to give your experiences with the for
estry department. Therefore. it Is i'm
portant at this time that you under
stand the various matters involved,
When the control OF the national for
ests was transferred from the interior
department to the department of agri-
culture. Mr.. Pinchot sent me to Denver
| TO represent the forestry bureau at a
general conference. AT that time. the
| objection was made by the sheepmen that
! the grazing rates for sheep, In compari-
son with those for cattle. were too high
Their contention was not sustained.
Rates for Grazing.
/ had wired for copies of the Use
Book for 1910, Issued in Washington jan
uary l., and piles of them Were started
| for Ogden n ha given N he 1e1aOu 4 aS
| TO this convention. But they have been
marooned by the storms.
] want to say that the shespmen are
cordially invited to come TO Washington
to discuss with the forestry department
the rules and questions regarding graz
Ing and other important matters affect
ing their industry.
The rates for grazing have been gen
orally based on the proportion OF ! to Q:
for sheep and cattle. respectively. |
TO give recompense TO the bureau for all
its services In the forests. / think the
minimum should be cents on sheep
and 10 cents on cattle.
President Taft is eager to make both
ends meet, to keep the receipts equal to
expenditures in conducting the govern
ment. and 10 prevent the repetition Of
the big deficits. For this reason. we must
charge the fees now levied in order to
collect revenue, But the forestry service
basis, nor has 1t been since the changes
made In the law in 1907.
The appropriations committee OF con-
gress would not look with favor upon a
reduction in grazing or other fees at
tached to the forestry service, ! am GER
tain.
Policy of Improvement.
II Is not the forestry service which is
causing the reduction OF herds Oh re-
serves. 1t is the rapid settlement aud
development of the country and the re-
sulting increase In privately owned
ranges. The livestock men must give
way to the march of settlement and the
growth In population In hitherto sparsely-
settled districts.
Our policy will be to make the reduce
tions slowly as possible under existing
conditions, But the forest reserves have
been greatly improved, so that on the
| whole, think conditions are much better,
As matter OF fact. in 1909 there wero
a million more sheep and cattle on nat
ural increase In stock grazing on the
forest reserves. than there were In 1908.
One OF the most important matters vac
dwelt on by Secretary George S. Walker
OF Cheyenne. In his report to you. ! agree
with him on the question OF uniform
bounty laws. We have hired men known
as experienced hunters and placed them
as forest guards to kill the prcdato wild
animals. If you can influence legislation
so that the forest service can cooperate
with you and help you to pay expenses
and bounties for the killing Of these pests
and my aides will only be too glad TO
join with you In this fight