Gunnison news-champion., 1915-11-26
kKEr1 UlM r
uK STOCK Esr
Nst'onal Stockmen Also Fsv-
Or Fcris Leasing Bill Of
Dosbtful Nalue.

Certain recent activity Of the Amer
can Lave Stock Association Il Of con-
siderable interest 10 the local stockmeu
and should be noted.
A short time ago there Nas issued q
statement Of the proceedings Of the In
terstste Commerce Commission W the
matter Of q proposed advance IN thu
Rates 0f hive stock. TINS raise was
strensoasly opposed BY the National
Live stock Association and other stecs
associations. and largely through the
efforts Of I. W Tomhnson. secretary
Of the American National Lave stock
Association, the Objection to tine ad-
vance was clearly presented to- the com
mission. The case was finally decided.
the commission announcing that the
railroads had not justified the proposed
increase in the rates on July ~, Of this
year.
This decision of the Interstate Com
merce Commission and the consequent
victory Of the live stock association
means. 30 fer ~ the locsl Gunnison
county stockgrowers are concerned,
that there is = saving Of approximately
i've dollars on each narrow gauge cor
in the cattle shipments to the market
IL is announced the victory will annual
ly save for the live stock industry Of the
vest st lssst q. 00O, 90 "a Shipments of
live stock, saA appsoximssely thst
smeunt on the pso1scts Of hive stock.
Ansehsr matter Of concern to locsl
stsskasa wAisA wss considered by the
Aassieoa Noaiaaal Live Stock Associs-
tioa y thst ef the wee Of the range. ID
sAosId be noted that this sssosiation ct
its nsstiaG IN Bsa Frsacisco endorsed
Ksat lsasiag bili ~ slso stock pais-
ING bill. b Was the sentiment Of the
sssscistion thst for . ps0ser regulstion
snd control Of the public range, . com
binstisa Of these two bills ives Deces-
ssry. 1t 10 also Of interest to note thst
by resolution this national stock associs-
tion endorsed the administration of the
national forests.
Without discussing at this time the
desirsbility of such measure, we may
say that, Briefly analyzed, the Kent
bill provides, rs was stated in recent
article published IN the American Re
view Of Reviews for the creation of
grazing districts upon the unreserved,
unappropristed public lands upon pro-
clamation of the President; fully pro
tects prospectors and homesteaders in
all of their rights; authorizes the is
suance of grazing permits, including
the right to fence for not exceeding ten
years; and provides for the payment Of
fee similar to those paid in the nation
al forest for grazing. twenty-five per
cent of such fees goes to the district in
which the grazing lands are situated
for the benefit of the public schools and
public roads Of that section. In grant
ing leasing permits, the priority of the
present occupants Of the range is recoe-
nized and provision is made for the crea-
tion of local committee representing
various classes of live stock. This com
mttee, in cooperation with the officers
appointed by the government, shall
make division of the range between
the different kinds of stock. 10 deter
mine the number of animals which can
be safely grazed, and have the general
administrative handling of such matters
always subject to the control Of the
government.
Mr.. Ferguson Of New Mexico, at the
last session Of Congress introduced what
is known as the $40 acre Range Home
stead Bill. This bill had the approval
of the Department Of the Interior and
finally passed the House.
The American Review Of Reviews
briefly explains this bill in these words
The bill provides that on such lands a.
the Secretary Of the Interior may desiP-
nate as stock raising lands. stock
raising homestead of $40 acres may be
made on land of such character that $40
acres of it viii reasonably support a
family. Cultivation il not required, but
Improvement of not less than 81 p per
acre must be made on the land. one
half within three years Of the date Of
the entry. The bill provides for con-
siderable freedom in the selection of the
land.