Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-09-02


stockmen of the state: they have won
because they have been right. I want
to express also my appreciation Of the
work of the American National Lives. .Jck |
important forces working toward ef-
fective railway regulation. while its
support of the policy Of federal range
control has given 1t a large place in
national Affairs. As an old-time stock
man I realize that the present order
of things on the open range cannot
continue, and that the sure way to pro-
tect the range itself. prevent the in
crease of big outfits. promote the eQuit-
able use of the grazing lands. and fos-
ter genuine homestead settlement. is to
extend over the open range a system
of range control somewhat similar to
that now in effect on the national for
ests.
Whatever system of range control
may be adopted in detail. there are two
things It must not do. 1t must not
handicap or exclude the small man by
requiring him to spend more money
for fences than he can afford. and 1t
must leave every acre that can be set
tied by bona-fide homesteaders freely
open to such settlement.
do not believe that q single acre of
our public lands should hereafter pass
into private ownership except for tho
single purpose of homestead settle
ment. and I know that tho stockmen
stand with me In their desire to re-
the genuine homesteader. and to put
every possible obstacle in the pathway
of the man who tries to get public
lands by Misrepresentation or fraud.
This 10 absolutely necessary on tho
agricultural lands. It 10 at least equal
ly necessary on the mineral lands. It
would be . calamity. whose baleful ef-
feet on the average citizen We can
scarcely exaEgerate. II tho great stores
of coal and other mineral fuels still
hv he rann1A
elsewhere should pass into the unregu-
lated ownership of monopolistio cor
porations-
The Forest Service.
You progressive stockmen have stood
heartily by the conservation move
ment, and with you have stood many
others throughout the West. to whom
large credit II due. such As tho lum-
bermen in Washington and Oregon. the
irriEators In California. and the sup
porters Of the country life movement
in and around Spokane I want to
make my acknowledgements in partic-
ular to the Colorado Forestry associa-
tion. which has supported the forest
work Of the government with such un-
selfish seal. The forest service has
of Its best work has been met by the
bitterest opposition. For example. II
has done . real service by blocking
the road against the grabbers of water
rock against the demands Of bogus
mining concerns to exploit the national
forests. have always done my best
to help the genuine miner. I believe
ernmsnt 10 to encourage honest mining
on the public lands. But Il 10 equally
important to enforce the law firmly
against that particularly dangerous
class which makes Its living on the
public through fraudulent mining
Much of the opposition to the forest
service. like much Of the opposition tc
conservation. takes the form of direct
misrepresentation For example,. the
forests inciose great areas of agricui-
tural land which are thus put beyond
the reach Of settlement This state
ment seems plausible only till the facts
has specially provid-d that whatever
agricultural land there may be In any
national forest shall be open. under
proper safeguards. to homestead set
tlement. And In the second place. when
the opponents of conservation are ask
ed to point out the great stretches Of
incIosed agricultural land on the
ground and in the presence of experts.
instead OF in speeches In . hall. thsy
fail
Reclamation Service.
The National Irrigation Congress 10
late In September. am kesnly sorry
that could not aave accepted the
Invitation to be present ! must. how
ever. be In the East At that time. But
since cannot be present then to ex-
press my keen. long held. and desp-fslt
interest In the reclamation of arid
lands by the federal government. I
desire to do 80 now. There 10 no more
effective Instrument for the making Of
homes than the United States Reeia-
mi nn n n mn
reau while was President had reach
ed q higher standard Of efnciency. Ia
teGrity and devotion to the public well
fare.
Like the Forest Service. ths Reelama-
ton Service has ciashsd with certain pri-
vate interests. and has had to pay the
penalty Of Its service to the public In the
form Of bitter opposition from those with
whose profit IT has interfered. The CRY
has been raised against II that the gov
ernment must not do for It's citizens At .
less cost what private interests are ready
TO make them pay for At higher prices.
Now. I believe fully in the private de-
velopment Of irrigation projects which the
government cannot undertake. There 10
n large and legitimate nsid for such work.
But the essential thing 10 to make homes
on the lands. not to enable individuals to
proit from the necessities Of the men who
make those homes. There 10 no more
warrant for objectnE to the recia amat ton
of arid lands by tho government than
there would be to protest against the gov
ernment for patentinG agricultural lands
directly to the actual settler, instead of
through q midd1eman. who could make .
profit from the transaction. The men who
assert themselves at the cost of the COM
munity instead of by service to the COM
munity we have always had with US. and
doubtless always shall. But there 10
no reason why we should yield to them
The Reclamation Service has not done So
and that IL the chief reason for the at
taoks upon II.
you who In . better and more thorough
going westerner than I am. There has
been no support given to the conserva-
ton policies SO welcome as that which
came from the west. and none in the
west more welcome than that which came