The Delta independent., 1911-01-06

shame, that we have bartered away
our birthright: for, by our own Grim
inal misuse and negligence, we have
lost that prerogative over our national
resources which may have belonged to
US and we have forced their conserva-
tion upon the national government.
Like the individual who will not control
his actions in accordance with law and
order. he is made to do so; like the
county which will not conform its ad-
ministration to the support of state
government, it is made to do so. So
any of these arguments against gov
eminent interference, can be consid-
cred only in case of our having found
careful, honest, conservators of a pub
lie trust.
The national government has done
great work of necessity and the forest
service is one of its strongest adjuncts,
and having found it to be great bene-
faction to our industry. the only re-
naming logical thing for US to do is to
make our best efforts in maintaining
it. SO far as the disposition of our un-
appropriated grazing area is concerned,
let US see to it that it shall be let to US
on terms commensurate with the profits
of our business, no matter whether
under some future law of congress, we
shall use it under state or government
administration. The time has come
when some disposition must and will be
made of all our unappropriated grazing
lands, and it matters much to US what
this disposition shall be. In my judg-
ment, We are about to pass through
the most crucial period in our business.
BY doing our duty towards oursel es
and our industry, We may influence the
extension of that beneficent system
which is now in vogue on our forest re-
serves. This may be established either
with some law of state or national con-
troll. Some members Of our state con-
servation commission favor the one.
and some favor the other; in fact, some
of them seem to favor a congressional
act constituting wholesa lie disposition
OF all public grazing lands to settlers.
We stockgr overs must naturally feel
partial to national control, for we must
attribute initiative work up to this
time to the bureau of forestry. Ny
friends, have you ever paused to think
of the comparative cost of our different
grazing resources to US? Grazing in
the national forests costs US about one
and half cents per acre; using pat
ented grazing land costs US from eight
to sixteen cents per acre, no matter
whether we own it or some one else
owns it and leases it to US. Now, you
may readily see that those people who
are crying for that congressional act
making wholesale disposition of our
public grazing lands to settlers, must
either conceive of the almost improb-
able, scheme of a complete revolution
Of our state equalization system, or
they are contemplating a plan which
would necessitate our paying out that
enormous additional expense which is
absolutely incompatible with our ex-
istence as stockgrowers.
Up to this time. this element has
only stopped to argue the wonderful
revenue this system would bring to the
state and does not seem TO realize that
it means the probable annihilation of
one of its greatest industries. can
not believe this plan will be instituted
without considerable forethought and
hesitation. 1t appears premature. So
it seems that we are confronted with
either some sort of state or national
control. Let US beware of any plan
which is calcu' ated to enthrall our busi-
ness in ruin, and why not commend
that plan which has proved a benefac-
tion to US?
Now, gentlemen, this ends my paper,
and hope we may deliberate on all
subjects of interest to our industry in
that broad, fraternal manner which
insures prosperity to ourselves and our
neighbors. Gentlemen. thank you.