The Coconino sun. (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1898-1978, 1917-01-12

the TTtsiucHt anu hSihDSio AAeh eAA
ferent sections, l doubt if l can offer
anything original.
Mr.. McClure's letter was sent to me
byMr. Powers in one of his bank en-
velopes, and thought it was a notice
of a note POSSIBLY Slow being due
that l had overlooked.
l advised our Secretary that upon
my return to Arizona should submit
a paper on the "Sheep Industry in the
Southwest" At presnt it behooves
me to mention the necessities of the
sheep men in the Southwest and ask
your cooperation and potent infiu-
ence. We are unqualifiedly opposed
to an increase of Forest Reserve fees.
The Reserve Act was created to pro-
tect the natural resources of the coun-
try. 1t is too much of tendency to
overlook a few for the many. Our
forest reserve, so far as the live stock
phase is concerned, are self sustain
ing. We are obliged to own water and
land to secure permits, and there are
advantageous regulations in the
transfer of them. By a disgruntled
few who do not understand the tech
nicalities or live stock business itself,
is urged the advance in grazing fees.
The investment required in the sheep
industry in lands and increased cost
of production do not allow US, even
with the high prices, more than a
reasonable profit. Our loss in sheep
must be charged off at corresponding
ly high prices. The farmer and home
steader have the inalienable right
which we favor, free from speculative
contingencies, to take up land in large
tracts at nominal cost, whilst the live
stock man, in addition to owning land
acquired through homestead or trans
fer in sale, must pay fees, assist in
the protecting Of the peoples asset
from forest fires, its greatest menace,
and make improvements when or
dained. His investment cannot in
total be called liquid, or is not salable
in cash for his full output, for, If he
sells out, his permit is cut to the pur-
chaser; the reasons given are volum-
inously technical but insensible from
a commercial viewpoint.
Forest Reserves have been and are
a boon to the stock men in many
ways, and their administration, con-
sidering the completely Of the bust
ness, has been proficient. However,
to tax the meat producers of the ma
ton for the assets Of one hundred and
thirteen millions Of people in the
United States is an injustice and can
not help but be reckoned on by an
impartial and delberative tribunal,
An attempted comparison Of the cost
of running live stock on private lands,
or Indian Reservations, with Forest
Reserve, is assinine and smacks Of the
highbrow, theoretical knowledge with
a lack Of Of the rudiments Of the
practical. In other words, it is toe
much Of the University of listening
knowledge as against the practical
hardships of the man who weathers
the storms and works with both his
hands and head.
Mr.. E. H. Crabb, in letter to the
President of the Coconino Cattle
Growers Association, expresses my
sentiments sententiously when he
SAYS: 1.-THE stock men are not justi-
fed in paying the total interest on 9
Government investment Of increasing
value to the whole people when the
stock men own parcels Of the land ant
the water.
The sheep men of the Southwest
are interested in the exclusion Of
needed range from entry that cannot
be utilized for agriculture advantage
ously. We are also interested in ant
ask your cooperation in securing
from the Government needed and AIDE
auate trails through Forest Reserves
or Indian Reservations, to prevent in
ordinate losses in old sheep, to have
our lambs in marketing shape, and
from a humanitarian viewpoint Il
have some consideration for dumb an
imals and not drive them in excessive
numbers over trails or driveways bar
rem of food and almost destitute O
water.
Just one more suggestion to tn
financial end Of the Wool CROWN,
industry.
Our President announced last yea
that a fund of fifteen million dollar
was aggregated last year by com
bination of banks in Salt Lake City +
advance loans to Wool Growers at re
duced rates Of interest. With tn
necessity of the stock men owninl
IonJ III, asfy,, ont 10 1acc nracariOlls