The Delta independent., 1911-01-06

allotted to them. They have each year
fixed the number of stock to be grazed
in each and every district. giving to
each user his just proportion of in
crease and decrease. They have Joined
at all times in safeguarding the forage
condition of the range against over
grazing. In short, our association has
reclaimed our ranges and built up. for
its members, a right to their perma-
nent use. But. having achieved good
grass and the right to use it, what
have we done toward improving our
grades of cattle? We have prevailed
upon our chief forester to instruct his
supervisors to see that the state law
with regard to supply of bulls and salt
be complied with. The supervisors
have done this and we have been able
to coerce negligent stock growers to
supply their herds with good bulls and
plenty of salt. And now, gentlemen,
l want to call your attention to the
fact that as result of system in busi-
ness, good grass and good bulls, we
have come down off our ranges in the
fall, with better and heavier calves,
and gone into the markets with better
and heavi,r r steers, and consequently
with greater profits to our business.
But the most significant fact is, Colo
RADIO has been capturing al the show
prizes on feeders, and these feede RS,
coming from the western slope of
Colorado, in fact from those very local.
tiles where the cattle men and the
forest supervisors handle range affairs.
So it matters not if the stockmen' 8
chosen organ, 1.-The Record Stock
man." and it's uncle, 1.-The Rocky
Mountain News" do cuss the forest
service, it has, with our help. done
much good in this part of Colorado.
Our association has also done efficient
service in assisting our stock inspector
IN his work. Our advisory boards have
cooperated with the forest rangers in
keeping a closer surveillance on ques-
tionabe characters, and they have rec
commended that when good competent
rangers may be found, at least two for
each reserve be commissioned by our
stock inspection board as special in
spectors to guard their respective
ranges against stealing. working at all
times under advisement with the local
inspector. This has met the approval
of our Inspector and no doubt it would
be of untold assistance to him in his
work. We believe that if we can ar
range to give our able inspector that
support which he must and should have
from US, we will have the best in
spected district in Colorado, for he has
done that volume of work which seems
almost incredible. Besides inspecting
over $1,000 cattle and horses bound for
market this year, he has gone to hum
dreds of corrals, fields and ranges to
guide the legitimate disposition of un-
told numbers of cattle and horses and
to have the same returned to their
owners.
Now, my friends. this ends what
consider but meagre review of our
organization, its growth and its
achievements. Having looked back
ward, let US look forward just for
moment. Do we realize what the
future has in store for US? We hope
always to have the forest reserves
with us and we hope to maintain the
cooperative administration of its graz
ing resource; but can we see before US
any field of progress? We have an
almost interminable stretch of unsp-
propriated grazing lands. but may we
hope some day to see our splendid ex-
ample of its just and equitable admin
istration exercised over it? We may
But once for all, we should realize that
many sources of opposition and many
difficulties confront US in our great ex-
state and community the shyster who
wants something for no hing-the
CRATER who would have all our public
domain with its wealth of resources
left open for unrestrained fraudulent
entry-that political heeler who would
build obnoxious features in any public
question to prejudice the mind of the
public against his opponent and, we
may say. truly. there is that good
honest citizen who wavers in the doubt
as to what might be the safe, equitable
disposition of our unappropriated pub
lie domain. 1t is hard to make swift
progress in cause against so MANY
elements of opposition. We must sit
down with this last mentioned class
and reason together. They argue that
it is custom as old as our nation that
we use our public domain so far as its