The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1912-05-10
New Kind of Public-Lar d
Withdrawal.
Executive Orders in Aid of Small Stock
Owners.

piece Of practical conservation. The
President, by Executive Order, under
the withdrawal law has withdrawn
from entry many tracts of unappro-
priated public lands which contain
springs or small streams. These
watering places control the public
range over large areas in Utah and
Wyoming and the withdrawal of these
/ lands will in no wise interfere with
the use of the springs or streams but
will in fact insure the possibility OF
public use. Control of watering
places by strong private interests and
the resultant monopolization of graz
ing on the public domain are believed
to be prejudicial to public interest,
and the President regards the setting
aside of these watering places for
public use as serving distinct and
beneficial public purpose, in harmony
not only with the letter but with the
SplrlL Oh LIlo dCl VI l0IO.
The three Withdrawals already ap-
proved by the President represent an
aggregate area of about $4,000 acres
IN six COMMITTEES in Utah and Wyoming,
and include tracts of public land
known from the records Of the United
States Geological Survey and the Cen
eral Land Office to contain 248 springs
and streams.
1t iswell known that in the Rocky
Mountain and Pacific coast States
there are many large areas OF excell-
ent grazing land in which the number
of places where water for man or
beast can be obtained is relatively
small. Sometimes the shortest dis
lance between water holes is 10, 20,
or even so miles. Some of these wat
ering places are springs, some OF them
ponds of alkaline water, some of
them small streams flowing down
from adjacent hills or mountains and
becomming lost on the edge of the
desert. The lands in large part sup
port growth of grass and small
brush which is excellent fodder for
horses, cattle, or sheep, and AS prac-
tically all these areas are Government
land they are free range for who
ever may care to Craze his stock
thereon. However, stock can not live
without water, and unless watering
places are available to a stock owner
it is impossible for him to utilize the
range.
AS a result Of these conditions i
: has come to be common practice II
some parts of the West for big cat
tie or sheep outfit to obtain possess
ion of the few scattered water hole
: in certain area and by this means t.
g monopolize the grazing privilege al
: most as effectively as if it actual.
e owned every acre of the area. Il
S consequence the small stock owne
has been placed at serious disadvan
n tage and in many localities has beel
y forced out of business.
IS This practical development of tn
IS conservation policy in order to pre-
vent monopolization of the publ
q grazing lands will not only insur
, equal opportunity, under present cor
! ditions, but it prepares the way 70
! future legislation. Should Congress
% at any future time beside to pass
q grazing law the retention of these We
tering places in public ownership wi
make the enactment of a satisfactor
e law possible; whereas if the waite
l. should pass into private hands tn
81 framing of law providing for tn
II control of grazing on the public do
: main would be useless, because tn
: law itself would be imperative.
% The present actionwill really be bt
. neficial to both large and small stoc
- growers, although it will doubles
y not be pleasing to those who desire
exclude rivals from the range by a
curing the watering places then
selves. The competition and strugg
for existence have in many place
\ however, grown so keen that even
| the largest outfits the strife has bt
| come burdensome, and to some {
| them, at least. the removal of one {
| the causes of contention by the rese
| walton of the springs and streams fc