The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1912-05-09
NEW KIND OF PUBLIC LAND WITHDRAWAL.

Withdrawal of public lands for use rather than from use
Is the latest piece OF practical conservation The president by
executive order, under the withdrawal law has withdrawn
from entry many tracts of unappropaed public lands which
contain springs small streams These watering places
troll the public range large in Utah and Wyoming
and the withdrawal of these lands will wise Interfere
with the use of the springs streams but will in fact insure
the possibility of public Control of watering places by
strong private interests and the resultant monopozaon of
grazing the public domain believed to be peudcia to
public interest and the president regards the setting aside of
these watering places for public serving distinct and
beneficial purpose harmony not only with the letter but with
the spirit of the act of 1910.
The three Withdrawals already approved by the president
represent aggregate of about $4,000 in
ties in Utah and Wyoming and include tracts Of public land
known from the records of the United States Geological Survey
and the General Land Office contain 28 springs and streams
It is well known that in the Rocky Mountain and Pacific
coast states there large of excellent grazing
land in which the number Of places where water for
beast be obtained relatively small Sometimes the
shortest distance between water hoes is TO- 20 80
miles, Some of these watering places springs OF
them ponds alkaline water of them small streams flow
ing down from adjacent hills mountains and becoming lost
the edge of the desert The land large support growth
of grass and small brush which excellent fodder for horses
cattle sheep and practically all these govern
men land they free range" for whoever may to
Craze his stock thereon However, stock not live without
and unless watering places available to stock own
er it is impossible for him to utilize the range.
AS result of these conditions it has to be common
practice parts the west for big cattle sheep out
fit to obtain possession of the few scattered water holes in
certain and by this to monopoze the grazing PRIV
ege almost effectively if it actually owned every acre OF
the In consequence the small stock owner has been
placed at serious disadvantage and in localities has
been forced out Of business.
This practical development Of the conservation policy IN
order to prevent monopozaon Of the public grazing lands
will not only equal opportunity under present conditions
but it prepares the way for future legislation Should con
gres at any future time decide to pass grazing law the ree
ton Of these watering places in public owner ship Will make
the enactment of satisfactory law possbe whereas II the wa
ter should pass into private hands the framing Of law
vng for the control of grazing the public domain would
be useless because the law itself would be Imperative
The present action will really be beneficial to both large
and small stock growers although will doubtless not be pleas
ing to those who desire to exclude rivals from the by ac
curing the watering places themselves The competition and
struggle existence have many places however, grown so
keen that the largest outfits the strife has become bur
densome and Of them at least the removal OF one OF the
causes of contention by the reservation Of the springs and the
streams for the Of all will be decided relief 10
the small stocan who has been fighting for existence and
who has seen his grazing diminish year by as he has
been barred from this spring from that stream will be wei
come news that the has taken steps that will at
least make the competition farer