The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-02-18
Southeastern New Mexico StOckmen Petition
Government to Protect and Conserve Range


shortage OF nearly twenty miuivn
meat animals. Including cattle. sheep
and swine.
We submit that "a II unreasonable
and Inconsistent for the government
In its Administrations OF the public
property to so strikingly NEGLECT To
care for one OF the most valuable of
our resources, especially at "a time
when such neglect results In a ma
tcriai shortage OF one OF the most
vital necessities.
We therefore most respectfully ask
' you TO use your great influence t0
bring about the enactment OF such
legislation as viii result In an eff
Client and effective control of the
remaining government mnds which
are or can De made good for graz
INK u breeding ~ meat animals
While we do not venture 10 Judge
what would be the best method Of
bringing about This result. we think
ID could be accomplished satisfactnr-
ily, either through a national lease
law or through the ~ransfer 90 the
states. permanently or for "A term OF
years. OF thc remaining grazing lands
Tor supervision ana leasing by the
state governments. Whatever sys.
TEN may be adopted. we are willing
to pay Il reasonable pasturage either
on q per capita or acreage basis. pro
vided an equitable Classification Of
the lands he made according ~ the
uuality OF the grass and carrying ca
pacity Of various districts. And We
are willing to submit to any reason
able restrictions nud regulations.
providing they result IN the preserv-
ation and Improvement Of the range.
and providing that We can ecu
large enough areas for sufficient
terms to make It worth While 10 build
fences. develop water and capitalize
our business.
We do not think that UGH iegisla-
= tion would Interfere with he etfec-
/ tive and permanent settlement Of
p such sections of the country as can
! be successfully %colonized. OH the
contrary we believe that 1t would ac-
tunlly hasten the settlement of IA
: such sections. demonstrating and
ldry farming have been pretty thor
oughly tried out In the region 60
I (which your petitioners refer. az they
AANN VI Jaw ANAAE ~ ANaAH 49,
: sections. So thoroughly In fact. that
D nearly all the land lit FOR homes has
been proven up on. ana much that
| was unfit has been so demonstrated
. Hinder an adequate leasing system.
. (which should provide compensation
! Ito the lessee. after n term OF years
, for any permanent improvements
/, lmade by him during the term OF his
/ .leasc-the discovery and develop
lmcnt OF new water veins and basins
, would be much moro probable than
, liz the case with homesteaders who
usually lack the means to sink furth-
, er than for surface water. IL tndi-
lyidunis had reasonably tons tenure
, on good pasture tracts. Il would be
! Ito their interest not only To conserve
! the pasture. by giving 'he grass a
, lchance to germirate and re-seed the
Z %lrange "a In the digEing OF wells and
! water holes they would be likely to
3 discover any latent resources the
, land might conceal. and they would
: have the same chances AS n othef
citizen To take advantage of these
I resources az the expiration Of their
+, lleasehold tenure whether their pas
lture privileges were renewed or not.
We are strongly or the opinion
r. that the government range u " re-
q mains open and free and unfeneed.
? lwHl no; only never be properly cared
+. for but will soon be practically ruin
, led. We are convinced that In this
T. AZ In ether matters. when YOU get
= lsomething for nothing you viii abuse
I the gift. We are ready To pay reason
: lably for our pastnrnge and to take
b. care Of the range " the government
H. lwm give us a chance. We beg you
= Mr.. President. to do what you con-
lsistentiy can TO preserve and I'm
! prove the fast disappearing ranges
4 lof the west, ranges which, II %propcrly
4 cared for. can. for many decades
! produce beef and mutton sufficient
for MILLIONS Of our people without
1, in any way interfering with tho
!, proper settlement Of the country. but
: which. " they are allowed To deteri-
crate as they are now deteriaratinR
win cause inestimahle loss Ia tho ma
. ltion and les people.
r IT, addition Ia what has been said
= those parts Of u that are still gov
! eminent land viii soon be so badi'
y damaged as To be- practically beyOns
redemption for pasturage. We are lee
A 10 these conclusions by our " ex
"a p%ericnee In the stock business here
4 and by close observation Of MANI
y years. Vast areas 81 this section such
4 as that between the pecos river oi
r the east and the white and saern
. mento mountains on he west. which
a were formerly aOvered with REL
gramma and other forage grasses ar
/, rapidly d%eterioratlng n viii no
support onc-fourth the number %
y cattle they once did. We a Y close
y ~ watched the effect of careful con
seryation on certain controlled arenI
A within his district as compared witt
n the uncontrolled open range. and arr
q convinced that only through contro
a Of the land can the stock business b
. continued here for any nreat length
"a OF time. These controlled areas are
' lat. Lands owned BY h state ant
leased to stock men al a usual renta
OF nve cents per acre per annum. end
Lands owned by the nation In IN
y Alamo. and the Lincoln national for