Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-12-29
FEES FOR GRAZING
MAY BE INCREASED

MAI DE lNOBEAfA6ENO
Ogden, Dec. 23.-The returns
from grazing will rise as more
stock uses the forests in consequence
Of range improvement and the de-
velopment OF Mew ranges. There is
now in contemplation an increase in
the grazing fee which would result
in a marked further addition to the
receipts fund. When regulations Of
grazing on the National forests be-
gan low scale of charges was adopt
ed. This was necessary at the out
set, both to prevent undue disturb
ance to the live stock industry,
which has been accustomed to using
the ranges free Of charge, and t
facilitate the working out OF sys-
tenn of control which would secure
the best use OF the range and re-
storation of its productiveness
During the past 10 years OF grazing
to the stockmen has materially in
creased Improved methods of man
aging both the range and the stock
have been introduced. Losses are
fewer, production is greater and the
product Is of higher quality. At the
same time the outside public range
has been greatly reduced. while tht
demand has grown.
Although there have been some
readjustments of grazing charges
there has been no general advance
in the rates. Present users Of the
National forest ranges are paying
much less than the prevailing locai
rates on private, state and Indian
lands. This may be illustrated by
some typical examples. In Montana
lands of the Northern Pacific rail-
road leased for sheep grazing bring
the equivalent OF Is cents per head,
as against charge Of cents on adj
joining National forest lands. On
the Craw Indian reservation, In the
same state, competitive bids realized
81 cents for sheep, while cattle graz
ars bid So; on adjoining National
forests the sheep rate Is 13 IL cents
and the cattle rate 81 cents. On the
White Mountain and San Carlos In
dian reservations, in Arizona, cattle
pay s2.4O, horses IS. and sheep so
cents; on adjoining National forest
lands quite as good cattle pay 50
cents, horses so cents, and sheep u
cents. In California the Southern
Pacific Railroad company obtains 5
cents per acre for land leased for
sheep grazing, while similar and ad-
joining National forest lands yield
/ 4-5 cents per acre.
The present demand for grazing
privileges on q majority Of the For
ests far exceeds the carrying capaci-
ty, and the demand is on the In
crease. Under these conditions the
stockmen using the National forest
ranges are enjoying special advan-
tages over those who must pay for
range ON q competitive basis or do
without. The value Of ranches and
stock is markedly increased. as Is
well recognized in current CONNER
cial transactions, by virtue of pref
erence privileges to use OF the forest
ranges. 1t Is an established princi-
pie of National forest administration
that the man who ID accorded a priv
ilege OF exclusive use OF land or
material for commercial profit shall
pay the public in proportion to the
value of what he receives. This is
Just. both from the standpoint of
the public as owners OF the forests
and from the standpoint of other
individuals over whom otherwise the
holder OF the privilege would be un-
duly favored. It has become plain
that increase Of the benefits derived
by stockmen from National forest
administration without q common