Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-04-17
WESTERN WATERH0LES
WITHDRAWN BY TAFT

Washington April Is President
Taft by the adaptation OF what Is
now a we'll established policy, 10 a
new end. has SET aside certain
springs and small streams in the
Great salt Lake Desert of Western
Utah as public WATERING places, In
order 10 realize the far-reaching ef-
feet Of this now conservation meas
urc. and the boon it will BE TO the
small stock grower Il is necessary 10
understand something O, conditions
,n the somi-orid grazing re@icns Of
the FAR West
There are I'm me Rocky mountain
and Pacific coast states many large
areas of excellent grazing land In
which a number Of places who're wat
or for man or beast can be obtained
IS relatively small Sometimes the
shortest distance between water holes
is ten. twenty. thirty or even fifty
miles Some Of these watering
places are springs. some Of them
ponds Of alkaline water. some OF
them small streams flowing down
from adjacent hills or mountains and
become lost on the edge Of the des'
ert. The lands in large part sup
pert a growth OF grass and small
brush. which Is excellent fodder for
horses. cattle or sheep. and since
practically all Of these areas are gov
eminent land they are free range
for whumsoever NAV care TO Craze
his stock thereon However. stock
can not live without water, and un-
less there are watering places avail
able 10 a stock owner II Is impossible
for him 10 utilize the range.
As n result OF these conditions I,
has come TO be common practice In
some parts ~ the west for a cattle
or sheep outfit % obtain possession
Of the few scattered water holes In
a given territory and by this means
to monopclizc the grazing privilege
almost as effectually as II actually
owning every acre OF the area II
consequence the small stock cwnel
has been placed at a serious iisad
vantage and In many localities has
been forced out Of business.
! Officials ~ the interior depaitmen'
who have been studying conditions
In the public land states have fol ;
long time been advocating LEGISLATION
to sontdol grazing on public lands II
order 10 prevent these and othel
abuses, such as the over stocking o
the range Pending each congress
sional action they have rou'ht som,
means to prevent the monopoliZatiol
of the public lands through this con
. troll Of the watering places and havl
found Il In the withdrawal act passe,
, in 1910 upon the recommendation o
President Taft The law provides tina
lands NAV be reserved by the presi
! dent for water power sites, irrlga
ton. classification Of lands. or othe
/. public purposes. The president feel
!, that the setting aside Of these water
|. ing places for public use Is a dis
: tinot and beneficial public purpose
= In HARMONY not only with the lette
e but with the spirit Of the law.
!, BY Withdrawing these tracts theI
: acquisition by interests which desir
through them 10 control or monoI
= olize grazing or any particular POI
I tion OF the public domain will /
made impossible The tracts thus II
\ served will be held open 10 the pul
lie and cattlemsn or sheep man {
horse raiser whether he be rich {
q moor. the owner Of a few or OF man
' hundreds or even thousands Of hea
G of stock NAV use these public wa
ering places whenever he sees III an
will thus be enabled 70 avail hin
self Of the grazing privileges. whic
any citizen Is entitled on the una
propriated lands OF the public d
main. Moreover, should congress-
. any time decide 10 pass a grazir
law the retention u these waterir