Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-01-17

Of GRAZING
Live Stock Association Takes
Important Action
THE CURTIS-SCOTT MEASURE.
Prof. Thornber's Address of
Greater Import Than Amy
Delivered at the Conven-
ton Held Last Week III
Fort Worth.
THE CURT|S-SCOTT MEASURE

Further details of the important
action taken at the annual convention
of the American National Live Stock
association, held January 10. IL and
l. in Fort Worth. Texas, To secure
the regulation of grazing on the pub
lie domain by a system of fees and
permits. were given out yesterday by
Dwight B. Heard. Mr. Heard attend
ed the convention as a delegate from
Arizona and was elected first vice
president of the association.
According to Mr.. Heard, the Fort
Worth convention was the most sue
cessful the American National Live
Stock association ever had. although
the attendance was comparatively
small. There were less than 600 ac-
credited delegates present while the
year before. at Denver. there were
more than 1900 delegates This was
largely owing to the fact that Fort
Worth is farther removed from the
center Of the cattle growing area.
Nevertheless the 600 delegates accom-
plished as much or more than the
1900
The people of Fort Worth enter
tanned the stockmen i'm royal style.
Nothing was too good for them They
were taken on automobile rides. en-
tertained by the Mystic knights of
Bovinia," were guests at a Stock
mems Smoker and at an odd time
cowboys dance"
Two speeches made at the conven-
ton overshadowed all the others.
These were made by II. A. Jastro. the
retiring president, and by Prof. j. J.
ThOrnber of the University of Ari-
IONA Rehabilitation of Some Arid
Grazing Ranges in Arizona" was the
subject of Professor Thornber's add
dress as given in the official program
The talk Of Professor Thornber show
ed deep research and was more fav-
orably received. perhaps. than any
other made at the convention. Much
of it dealt with a plan to start black
grass, a plant now almost extinct
and existing, so far as is known. only
in botanical collections, on the west
ern ranges Owing to the great i'm
portance of Professor Thornber's adj
dress a copy will he secured by The
Republican and published at an early
date.
The subject of greatest importance
taken up at the convention was graz
ing. IL is now generally recognized
by all stockmcn that some action
must be taken To restrict grazing on
the public ranges. They realize that
more cattle can be taken care of un-
der system of restricted grazing
than with unrestricted use of the
ranges. 1t is really an advantage to
the stockmen themselves to pay fees
for grazing their stock as they are
thus insured against the destruction
of ranges by overgrazing This is
illustrated by the present system of
restricted grazing in effect on the
forest reserves.
AS chairman of the grazing COM
mite. Mr.. Heard had a great deal
to do with the preparation of it's re-
port, which endorsed the Curtis-Sco
bill. now pending in congress. In
person he read it to the convention
and it's reception was enthusiastic.
Two resolutions. following the sug-
gestions made therein, were immedi-
ately passed by the convention.
Following is the report of the graz
ing committee:
Grazing Report.
Your committee on forest reserves
and grazing lands desires to empha-
size the fact that in the protection
and Improvement of the forests.
streams and grazing lands of the
arid west lies the successful future
of the stock and agricultural indus
tries of that section. Through the
agency of the national government.
The forests of the west are now pro
tected and definite plans are under
way for the proper protection of the
streams either through state or ma
tional control and regulation and the
time has arrived when the conserva-
ton of another great resource. the
grazing lands, can be no longer neg
lected without disastrous results.
The National Conservation asso-
citation is focusing its work at pres
ent on the protection of water power.
lands and forests. and a great
field lies open to the American Ma
tional Live Stock association in TAX
ing up in a vigorous and effective
manner this vital question of range
conservation.
Owing to a number of causes. not
ably the development of reclamation
work throughout the west which we
heartily approve. and an increase in
the dry farming movement. the actual
grazing area of this country is