New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-03-23
STATE LAND COMM|S-
SIONER ADDRESSES
LIVE STOCK men
FAv0RS GRANTING OF FED.
ERAL LAND TO STATE AND
ASKS LIVE STOCK MEN TO
CONSIDER ADVANTAGES 1T
WOULD BRING

Albuquerque, N NJ, Mar. N-Ad
dressing the convention of Gait e aut
Sheep Growers associations here to.
day, State Land Commissioner Rob.
ort i. Ervien suggested to the stock.
men an organized effort by the pub.
lie land states to secure from con
oress grants to the several states e
the remaining rnappropriatei pub i,
lands therein. Mr.. Ervien said Il
part:
There is nothing that so deepi,
interests the stockman at this time
as the grazing proposition. With
the influx Of settlers. making their
c40-acre homestead filings, lines up.
on the range are being closely
drawn. The situation on the for
est reserves where increased graz
ing fees are now being called for
but without additional privileges
and the recent sweeping orders by
the general land office for the re.
moyal of al, fences on government
land, without regard to. local con-
ditions, combine to cause many
stockmen to regret that they did
not obtain larger holdings of state
lands in earlier days when oppor-
unity offered.
"The demand for selections of
state lands came very gradually, and
being gradual resulted in a more
equitable distribution of the lands
than could have been hoped for
under any special or restrictive reg
Hiaiions which might have been laid
down by the state.
"As the demand increased for
easrd and the regulation was es-
tablishcd that the lessee must pur-
rhase ouc-iifth of the total acreage
applied for under lease and this
sondllron caused the ranchman to
cut down the size OF the tract ap-
piled for, still further prom ting an
cquitab' distribution of the land,
This purchase requirement OF one
fifth applied principally in the
southeast portion of the state. In
the southwest section. with very
few exceptions the stockmen pur-
chased outright all the land COW
cred by their applications, as in the
latter section the lands could be
sold on the basis of the minimum
price of So an acre.
"Stockmen in every section of
New Mexico, wherever their means
permit, should purchase their lands
now leased from the state. The
states terms are reasonable and
have been made even more reason
I'D by recent legislation, although
still fully protecting the interests
Of the state. 1t is only a question
Of time until new laws will be enact
ed which will tend to cut down the
size of the individual holding, not
only that which may be leased, but
hat which may be purchased and
The result viii be that many stock
men will be put out of business
who have built up fairly profitable
)uSipcss through many hardships
md te.orves. but who have neg
ected to protect themselves in their
and holdings. Whether reduction
t the acreage Of state land which
IN b. leased or sold to an irdiSi-
ira! /. vie policy for the state re-,
mains a debatable question, Ger
ain it is that the tendency is in
hat direction.
Except perhaps during short peri
IDS of business depression, .and in
New Mexico will never be worth less
han it is today, and as there will
lever be another crop it is bound
o be worth more.
The stockgrowers of the western,
nd particularly of the public land
tates. al their various meetings and
should take up vigorous
y The matter of the disposition of
he remaining unoccupied govern
lent lands. As a rule, these lands
re fit only for grazing. The stock
7an, a> rule, is wiling to pay a
easGnable amount per annu:n .or
.ich lands, and can we'll afford to
. so. provided he cam control the
lnds
at would be we'll for you in your
to go carefully into this
latter and if found practical to
dopt resolutions asking congress to
rant to the several states the bal
nee of the pubic domain remain
lg therein.
"As it stands today these public ,
Inds cost the interior department
Iore for handling and administra-
on than the revenue they produce ,,
, the government. They are an ,
xpense to the national government
stead of being source of revenue. ..
he theory that the lands should ;
= held in trust by the government !
n future homesteaders does not /.
.em to be well founded. Certainly !
is not as it relates to conditions :
New Mexico; because it is easy {
show that in this state, all other !
,nditions being equal, man can :
1prove to the earning point piece
state land, sold to him under the .,
ate's terms quicker and for ,ess L
oney than he can bring an equal 5
reage of government land to the .
me productive position. I
"But these same lands. owned by D
ID under the administration of the o
ate governments would become =
venue producers for the states Il
ther through rentals derived, or BY
xation of lands sold. No one will t,
estion that development of these G
nds would be more rapid and more n
tensive and thorough under state t;
vnership than under the present Il
rm of federal direction. is
About a year ago the matter of a
anting the remaining public do tt
lin to the states was taken up BY e!
> sfats land nff,rs ~-,s<l &ha r.u- ;x