El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-03-22
(sy Leased WIre to New Mexlean.)

(By Leased Wire TO New Mexican,
Albuquerque. N. M, March 30
How to make their associations NOR,
valuable to the individual membel
was n Of the chief topics to bs
discussed, under various guises, a
the annual meetings of the New Mex
leo Wool Growers association and thu
New Mexico Cattle and Horse Grow
ers' association, both of which hegar
a three days session here today.
Hundreds Of cattle and sheep mer
are here for the meetings of one OF
both associations. many OF them ex
pecting to gain here information or
which they will base their sales OIL
stock for the coming year. Many
members Of the wool organization ex
pected to attend the meeting Of the
cattlemeny at which III. "A. Jastrow Of
Bakersfield, Cal, member Of the mar
keting committee of the American
National Live Stock association, Is
scheduled to discuss the work and
future OF the marketing COMMITTEES
and the relation OF the individual to
it.
In view of the prices for meat ami
mails and the anticipated construction
of the public range through the oper
alton OF the 640-acre homestead law,
q considerable number Of the stock
men here have been devoting their
attention principally to the matter OF
breeding up" their flocks and herds.
Breeders of blooded bulls and rams
are here in force and trading for the
stock they offer has been brisk.
Oficials Of the cattlemen's associa-
ton said they hoped to get before the
association some discussion of ways
and means to obtain for New Mexico
bred beef animals the same recogni-
ton extended to those from the Pan
handle section OF Texas by buyers.
ERVlEN DISCUSSES STATE
LANDS AND LIVE STOCK
Albuquerque, N. NJ, March 20.-Ad-
dressing the convention of Cattle and
Sheep Growers associations of New
Mexico here today State Land Com
missioner Robert P. Ervien suggested
to the stockmen an organization
throughout the public Hand states for
the purpose Of securing from con-
gress grants to the several states OF
the remaining unoccupiedN public do
main. Mr.. Ervien said in part:
There is nothing that SO deeply in
terests the stockmen at this time as
the grazing proposition. With the in
flux Of settlers making their 640-acre
homestead filing lines upon the
range are being very closely drawn.
The situation on the forest reserves
where increased grazing fees are now
being called for, but without addi-
tional privileges, and the recent
sweeping orders by the general Ian
office for the removal of all fences
on government land regardless OF
local conditions, combine to
many stockmen to regret that they
did not obtain larger holdings of state
lands in earlier days when oppor-
tunity offered.
Demand for selections of state
lands came on gradually, and the in
crease in demand being gradual re-
suited in a more equitable distribu-
ton of the lands than, could have
been hoped for under any special or
restrictive conditions and regulations
which might have been laid down by
the state.
"As the demand increased for leas-
ed land the regulation was establish.
ed that the lessee must purchase one,
fifth of the total acreage applied for
under lease and this condition, AUS
ing the ranchman to cut down the
size of the tract applied for. still fur
Their promoted an equitable distribu-
ton of the land. This purchase re-
quirement of ,one-fifth applied prin-
,cipally in the southeastern part Of the
state. In the southwestern section,
with very few exceptions, the stock
men purchased outright all the land
covered by their applications, as the
latter section lands could be sold on
the basis Of the minimum price Of WI
per acre.
sStockmen 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 reasonable by recent
legislation, although still fully pro-
tecting the interests of the state. I'll
is only a question Of time until new
will be enacted which will tend
to cut down the size of the individual
holding. not only on that which may
be leased, but that which may be pur-
chased and the result will be that
many stockmen will be put out OF
business through many hardships and
but who have neglected to
protect themselves in their land hold
ings. Whether reduction of the acre
age Of state lands which car be leas-
ed or sold to an individual is wise
policy for the state remains a debat-
able question. 1t is certain, however,
that the trend is in that direction.
'Except perhaps during short
periods of business depression land
values in New Mexico will never be
lower than they are today. and as
there will never be another crop OF
land it is certain to be worth more.
1.-THE s~tockgrowers OF the western,
and particularly the public land
states, at their various meetings and
conventions should take up vigorous
ly the matter of the disposition of
the remaining ~un7occupied govern
ment land. As a rule these lands are
fit only for grazing. The stockman,
a rule, is willing to pay a reason
able amount per annum for such
lands, and can well afford to do SO
provided he can control the lands.
1T would be well for you in your
to 60 carefully into this
matter and II found practical, to adopt