The Delta independent., 1917-01-12

u,
are essential to good and permanent
business The lack of permanency.
definiteness, exactness and elasticity
are the Big Four drawbacks to stock
under permit on the National forests.
and they form such a real disadvant-
age that a comparison with areas
where they do not exist can hardly
be arrived at, such as an owned or
term leased patented land.
Permanency-there is no such thing
for permittee-cuts and changes
on account of range conditions and
community conditions are of course
acceptable, but mans business may
be taken from him without compen-
sation by unforseeable outside condi-
tions, such as the demand for an un-
grazed watershed by distant muni-
cipality. 1t is real; we have had
this condition to meet Or the set
tional Parks for the preservation of
scenic features too sacred" for COM
mon stock to gaze ar Craze upon.
We are at present threatened with
this change. 1t is a real danger to
the stock industry. There are quite
number of similar questions that
will be coming up in the near fu-
ture. each a real and unsettling men
ace to the industry, which must be
| in some way surmounted.
The National Forest permittee
| feels that the first verse of the 27th
Chapter of Proverbs was especially
| intended for him: Boast not thy
self of tomorrow, for thou knowest
not what a day may bring forth"
The Hon. Secretary's new views on
100 per cent increase in fees is to
the point. The lack of definiteness,
eXactness and elasticity are important
subjects, but as time is short, only
few words will be given to these
| features, as everyone in practical
touch with the situation knows that
these features constitute a real bur
den; as, for instance, the fact that
permittee's ranch developments, or
| his financial condition, or the chance
| to buy, right, or government and 9th
er conservative estimates of the fu-
of increasing his permit number. is
no sign that he can do so. Some new
man may wish to experiment on the
range and the old permittee is held
| nr No fc tn
this is an injustice to the present
user; the justice of injustice and the
actual economic worth to the public
as whole, is an open question-but
permittee, as compared to one run.
ming unrestricted stock on owned or
leased patented land must stand with.
out question.
And last, but most important and
| menacing of all, both to the present
holder of permit and to the ideals
and purposes held forth by the Forest
service as essential to the greatest
good for the greatest number, is the
narrow view that would see the great
possibilities to this food supply in
dustry from its fee returns only. and
carrying this to the dangerpoint of
putting 1t on the basis OF open com
petitive bidding. If the grazing priv
ileges go to the highest bidder, as
might be assumed from the sugges-
tions and unfavorable comparison
made against their own present graz
ing scheme, as outlined in the secre-
tary's letter under consideration then
it is all off for the little man and the
local man. The big interests can and
will bid it in. They have the price
it will pay them well, because among
other evident advantages their large
and diversified holdings will supply
the element of elasticity that is denied
the local man. Once open bidding is
established, that moment the big out
side interests get the range. and
through it, the control of a nations
food supply-all efforts to the con
trary will avail absolutely nothing.
One of the foremost and most i'm
poitdhN poiitS III al the DuSLHeSb ana
persosal efficiency teaching of the day
is to avoid the blind alley" Could
there be any more evident or clearly
defined blind alley" than business
that you were gradually to be squeez.
ed out of by the government? And what
other Interpretation can be placed on
the governments proclaimed policy