Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-04-04
better
SATISFIED WITH
THE SERVICE
Assistant Chief Of Grazing
Says Maturing Policies Of
Government Enlist Co-opera.
tiOn Of Forest Graziers.

Opposition to the administration
Of the grazing lnnds In the national
Forests Is becoming rapidly extinct.
said Assistant Chief Of Grazing J. r.
kneipp OF the United states forest
service at the district offices today
Mr. Knepp. who was formerly super
visor o fthe Pec0s NATIONAL forest with
headquarters az santa Pc. has Just
completed an extended trip through
the district, covering practically all
the forests OF southern New Mckee
ana Arizona and two IN northern
Arizona.
THE administration plans are mS-
turing" said Mr. Kneipp, "and as
they mature. the stockmen who are
grazing herds on the national reserves
are rapidly coming TO see the wisdom
Of these policies and 70 appreciate the
benefits which accrue to them. AS
they see the working out of the forest
service plans they become more and
more favorable Taking them as
whole the large majority of the graz.
iers enjoying national forest priv
ileges are now very friendly and ia
yorably inclined. Many OF these at
tribute their cahnge OF heart to
change ol policy on the part OF the
service; this Is not the case: the pol.
icies are merely being worked out TO
a point where the sIockmen begin TO
see the results.
"Of course. the fees charged have
been az the bottom OF most OF the
objections. but as the superiority OF
the reserve lands over the nOn-rosery-
ed pasturage becomes apparent it Is
seen that Notwithstanding the charge.
it Is IN the end cheaper for the stock.
man In order for him to maintain
control Of pasturage on the public
lands he has 10 secure water rights
and otherwise protect himself from
competition. Under the forest sery-
ice plan everything is given by special
definite allotment and the gra2ier Is
protected from unfair competition.
These and other benefits which come
under the forest service allotments
more than offset the charges of 30
cents for horses, 40 cents FOR cattle.
and ~ cents for sheep per head per
year, so that II Is really cheaper Tor
the stockman to Craze his animals on
the reserves or Indian reservations
under these conditions.
The sentiment has undergone such
a profound change that whereas pro-
posals to eliminate grazing lands from
national forests were formerly re-
ceiyed with appreciation. such propos.
ais now are met with objections from
tia sa,ek growers sO0io eN million
acres have been eliminated in the
past Few years, and In all but few
cases the stOckmen have petitioned
against the elimination. and would
rather be inside the government line
than outside. Relations now between
the officials Of the forest service and
the users Of the grazing areas ON the
forests are most amicable. The stock
men are giving as their cooperation
everywhere"
Il have examined the records OF
from II 20 "a national forests tor a
period OF two years past and IN al OF
them the complaints are conspicuous
by their absence.
The national forests are now fully
utilized and IN this whole district the
grazing areas that are unused are
practically negligible"
Present Outlook Encouraging.
AIR. Kneipp says that the present
N"fh'hh wi HNnAhiukt - very AHNbHA-
aging up TO the latter part OF Feb
ruary,' he said. "the prospects were
glooidy, everything being dry from
lack OF snow and rain. The storms In
the southern part Of New Mexico be.
gan about February "a and in south
ern Arizona little BIT later, since
which time they have occurred at reg.
ular intervals and there Is an abund-
anoe of moisture. It will he first
rate feed year from all present indl-
cations While me sheep men OF
southern ArizOha lost heavily on the
deserts of theif old stock. what they
bring north will be IN fine shape
stock losses IN southern New Mexico
as far as / have been able 10 ascer
tain have been trifling"
The past fiscal year showed 100000
cattle $1,000 horses, S77,576 sheep
and jS.632 goats being pastured on
the grazing areas OF the national for.
ests o. the district exclusive of one
small forest in Oklahoma and two In
ArkanaaR Mr. Keipp says the In.
crease runs about 20 per cent for cat.
tie and horses in the district and 40
20 50 par cent for sheen.