The evening herald., 1917-03-20

the most important Of any industry in
J. New Mexico.
The speaker said that the industry
was no longer haphazard sort Of
an affair and ne believed that IN
time II would bring employment To-
many people IN this state
Efforts to secure Land.
The next speaker, state Land COM
missioner Robert =. Ervein. suggested
to the stockmen an organized effort
I by the public land states to secure
! from congress grants to the several
states OF the remaining un-appropr!-
sted public lands therein. Mr. Erycin
said In part.
There Is nothing that so deeply
interests the stockmar NJ this time as
the grazing proposition With the
influx OF settlers. making their 100
acre homestead filings. lines upon the
range are being verS closely drawn.
The situation on the forest RESERVES
where Increased grazing fees are now
/ being called for. but without additional
privileges. and the recent sweeping
orders by he general land office for
the removal OF all fences ON govern
ment land. without regard 10 local
conditions, combine To cause many
stockmen TO regret that they did not
obtain larger holdings of state lands
In earlier days when opportunity OF.
fered
The demand for selections Of state
lands came very gradually. aud beiU-
gradual resulted IN a more equitable
distribution of the lands than cuul
have been hoped for under any spc-
+ Cia' or restrictive regulations whith
might have been laid down by the
state.
"As the demand increased Tor leas-
| ed land the regulation was established
that the lessee must pur' hase one
| nfth Of the total acreage applied Tor
under lease ana this condition caused
the ranchman to cut down the size
of the tract applied for. still fur,h' =
! promoting AN equitable distribution u'
I the land This purchase requirement
of onc-flfth applied principally IN the
southeast portion ~ the state. Ia ~"
southwest portion, with very Few cN-
ccptions. thc stockmen purchased out
: right alI the land covered hy inc
applications as u the latter section
uhc lands could pr sold ln the nuslt
of the minimum price OF sa nn n't
"Stockmcu BOO every section OF N'F
N,Ni,u. wherever their means perm.
should purchase their lands now
leased frum the state. The state
terms are reasonable aud nave n''r
made even more reasonahlc hN r"N'n'
isisiution. although -tlll full} protect
ing the interests OF the state. u N
'ouly % question Of time until new laws
NiIi be- enacted which viii tend ~ rH'
L.. .fa.Ur ID d 90 H..N IUU|# u u 20
not only that which may be leased.
bui that which mn, be- purchased aud
th, result viii be- that man, siochneu
viii be- put out of business VIII" huN'
built up "a fairly profitable business
through many hardships and reVcrse-.
but who have neglected tn protect
thcmseve- in then land holdings
whether reduction Of the acreage %
state land which can be leased or sold
tn an Individual is wise policy for th"
state remaius a debatahie question
Certain h is that the tendency be- in
that direction.
Except perhaps during short perl
ods Of business depression, land ~
Now Mexico viii never be worth Ices
than IL IN today ana as there VIII
never be another crop II Is bound 10
he worth more.
"rhe stockgrowors Of the western.
ANA particularly Of the public Nlanh
states. az their various meetings ana
conventions should take mp VIGOROUSLY
the matter OF tho disposition oi the
remaining un-orCupicd government
lands A. . fulc these lands are fit
only Tor srazinz The siockmen, 70"
a rule. s willing to pas rcason1p'
amount per nnnum Tor such lands