The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-05-06
FOR
STOCK GROWERS
WITHDRAWAL or PUBLIC LANDS
WITH WATER SUPPLY IN.
suREs FAIR TREATMENT
FOR ALL.

Withdrawal of public lands for use
rather than from use is the latest piece
at practical conservation. The presi-
dent, by exec utive order. under the
withdrawal law has withdrawn from
entry many tracts of unappropriated
public lands which contain springs or
small streams. These watering places
control the public range over larse
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 i'm fact
insure the possibility of public use.
Control of watering places by strong
private interests and the resultant
monopolization of grazing on the public
domain are believed to be prejudicial
To public interest, OF these watering
places for public use as serving dis
tinct and beneficial public purpose. in
harmony not only with the letter but
with the spirit of the act of 1910.
The three Withdrawals already APP
proved by the president represent an
aggregate area of about 10000 acres
i'm six counties in Utah and Wyoming,
and include tracts of public land
known from the records OF the United
States Geological Survey ard the Gen
erel Land Office TO contain PAS springs
and streams.
Ii is well known that in -the Rocky
Mountain and Pacific coast states there
"a A I -
ing land i'm which the number of places
where water for man or beast can he
obtained is relatively small. Some.
times the shortest distance between
water holes" is 10. 20. or even 80
miles. Some of these watering places
are springs, some of them ponds Of
alkaline water, some of them small
streams flowing down frcm adjacent
hills or mountains and becoming lost
on the edge of the desert The lands
in large part support growth of grass
and small brush which is excellent fod-
der for horses, cattle. or sheep, and as
all these areas are govern.
ment land they are free range" for
whoever may care to Craze his stock
thereon. However. stock can not live
without water, and unless watering
places are available to a stock owner IL
IS impossible for him to utilize the
range.
AS result of these conditions II has
come 10 be common practice in some
parts of the West for big cattle or
sheen outfit to obtain possession of the
few scattered water holes i'm a certain
area and by this means to monopolize
the grazing privilege almost as efIec-
lively as IL IL actually owned every
acre of the area. In consequence the
small stock owner has been placed at
d serious disadvantage and in many
localities has been forced out of bust
ness.
This practical development of the
policy I'M order to prevent
monopolization Of the public grazing
lands will not only insure equal OPP
urdcr present conditions. but
will prepare the way for future leGis-
Il tion. Should congress at any future
time decided to pass grazing law the
retention of these watering places in
public ownership will make the en-
lctment of a satisfactory law posi-
ole; whereas If the water should pass
into private hands the framing OF
law providing for the control of graz
ing on 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 il will doubt
less not be pleasing 20 those who de-
sire to exclude rivals from the range
by acquiring the watering places them
selves. The competition and struggle
for existence have In many places.
however, grown so keen that even TO
the largest outfits the strife has be-
come burdensome. and TO some of them
at least, the removal of one OF the
causes of contention by the rcserva-
ton Of the springs and streams OF
the common use OF all will be de- |
rded relief. To the small stockman |
who has been fighting for existence |
and who has seen his grazing area |
diminish year by year as he has been |
barred from this spring or from that |
stream, it will be welcome news that |
he government has taken steps that
viii at least make the competition |