The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-01-08
GOODING CHEERFD
BY CONVENTION
He Follows Forester Potter With Warning That the
Forest Service Must Give Wool Growers Treatment
or There Will Be Endless Warfare

think that there Is growing to Be a
better feeling between the sheepmen
and the forestry officials The rcsolu.
tionS recently passed at the conven.
ton OF the Idaho Wool Growers asso~
citation in Caldwell indicate that
strongly.
Il think that the forestry bureau is
improving and that We have been BE-
curing good results. I look forward
with hope that the sheepmen and for
estry officers and subordinates will
work In harmony for the best uses
OF the national forests, the develop
ment OF the livestock industry, and
tho growth of the western country in
general,
when I left Washington. Secretary
Wilson. in giving me instructions.
said to me. You know those people
Of the west, Mr.. Potter. and I will
leave matters in Your hands. Go out
there and talk with them. They aro
good people. They are reasonable
They will meet you half way See
what is the matter, and try to find
remedies, So that We can end this
trouble
"Mr. Pinchot was also quite an1-
ious TO be here. He told me so him
self. He wanted to meet YOU and
talk with You. know that he really
did But. of course, as you now know.
he was detained by the Ballinger con-
tovcrsy and other matters. and could
not be here Mr. Pinchot said that he
wanted the sheepmen and the forestry
officers to get together and work for
80 ~
Now. 1t is quite likely that num-
bcr OF you sheepmen will he called
before the joint congressional COM
mIttee TO give your experiences with
the forestry department. Therefore.
It is important at this time that you
understand the various matters In
yolved
When the control OF the national
forests WAS transferred from the in
terlor department to the department
OF agriculture, Mr.. Pinchot sent mo
to Denver to represent the forestry
bureau at general conference. At
that time. the objection WAS made by
the sheepmen that the grazing rates
for sheep. in comparison with those
for cattle, were too hieh. Their con-
tention was not sustained,
Il had wired for copies of the Use
Book for 1919, issued in Washington.
January /. and piles OF them were
started for Ogden TO be given TO the
delegates of this convention But they
have been marooned by the storms
II want TO saw that the shcepmcn
! arc cordially invited to come TO Wash
| ington TO discuss with the forestry
| department the rules and questions
regarding grazing and other import
ant matters affecting their Industry.
Tho rates for grazing have been
| generally based on the proportion OF l
to 8, for sheep aud cattle respectively.
/ say that these rates are only high
| enough to give rccompense TO tho
bureau for It's services in the forests.
] think the minimum should be cents
| on sheep and 15 cents on cattle.
president Taft is eager to make
both ends meet, to keep the receipts
equal to expenditures in conducting
the government, and TO prevent the
! repetition OF the big deficits. For
this reason, we must charge the fees
now levied In order to collect reve-
nue. But the forestry service is not
supposed to be on commercial basis.
nor has 1t been since the changes
made III the law in 1907.
"Thc appropriations committee OF
congress would not look with favor
upon reduction in grazing or other
fees attached to the forestry service,
| am certain.
"It Is not the forestry service which
is causing the reduction of herds on
reserves. Tt is the rapid settlement
and development of the country and
the resulting increase In privately
owned ranges. The livestock men
must give way to the march of settle
ment and the growth in population
in hitherto sparselg settled districts
"Our policy will be to make the re-
ductions as slowly as possible under
existing conditions. But the forest
reserves have been greatly improved,
so that on the whole | think condi-
tiops are much better. AS matter
of fact, in 1909 there were million
more sheep and cattle on natural In
crease IN stock, grazing on the forest
reserves. than there were in l9os.
zone OF the most important mat
ters was dwelled on by Secretary Geo.
S. Walker. of Cheyenne, i'll his report
to you. I agree with him on the
question of uniform bounty laws we
have hired men known as exper1enc-
! ed hunters and placed them as forest
4 guards TO kill the predatory Wild ami
i mails. II you can influence legislation
so that the forest service can CO.
operate with you and help you TO pay
expenses and bounties for the kiiDng
of these pests. I and my aides WIN
only be too glad to join with you In
this fight"
Mr.. Potter received generous
ronnd of applause when he arose and
bc was applauded when he finished MS
Gooding Replies.
p,t ox.Govcrpor Frank Il. Gooding,