Gunnison news-champion., 1918-01-11
STOCK GROWERS WANT
20 PER CENT RETURN
Believe Fifth of Grazing Fees Should
BE Devoted TO Fighting Poison Weed

BE Devoted to Fighting Poison " eed
( The following resolution is that
adopted by the GunnisOn County Stock
Growers Association, at the mid
winter meeting on December 20. II
sets forth in detail the reasons why
the stockmen ask the federal govern
ment to set aside 20 per cent of the
fees extracted from the ranchmen for
grazing. TO be used in prevention Of
the loss by poisonous plants on the
national forests. Their argument is
very good one, and If, as is hoped,
similar organizations thru the west
will take the same action, and the
movement receive backing by the state
and national organizations of stock
growers Il may pass congress.
Twenty-Five per cent Of the revenue
OF the forests now goes back into the
counties for road and school purposes,
and under ordinary conditions the
forest service might be- expected to
kick vigorously against letting loose
moro money; but, II a way can be de-
vised to have this expended thru the
interior or agricultural department.,
very likely the officials IN charge can
BE- made to see its justice.
WHEREAS. the death rate of cat
tie and horses due to poisonous plants
on the National Forest ranges of the
United States is 4 serious matter,
affecting the meat supply Of this
country a. well a. a grave loss TO the
cattle owners.
Tn" loss Of cattle and horses during
IN" year 1916 va SIX thousand, six
hundred and fifty mead t6,650), ap-
pruNimat"ly six thousand head of cat
d, or two million. seven hundred
thousand doil4r- lSz7OyOUO). of beef
Sc hlch At q valuation Of fifty dollars
iS5OOO) per head for cattle reaches
IN" enormous annual loss Of three
hundred thousand dollar, 1890 0,000).
Tn" loss Of -h.,p during the same
pruod was sixteen thousand, three
hundred and fifty h,ad ll6,35O), an
annual meat .u.z ul us,I one million
Il ,OOOO pound At twelve dol
lars Gl2.OOD per head B, amounts TO
ore hundred and ninety six thousand
dollars lSly6OOOJ.
The to,a. annual loss Of meat ap-
proNimat"s four million pounds and
a valuation Of half million dollars.
II will ALLOW q ration Of one half
pound Of mca. per day per man for
rIght days for ono million men, and
this is from loss that can largely be
prevented bv range improvement.
THEREFORE,. BE IT RESOLVED
by the Gunnison County Stock Grow
ers' Association, in session at its mid
winter meeting in Gunnison, Colorado,
this 29th day of December, 1917, that
we ask the Congress of the United
Staes 10 grant to each National For
est twenty per cent (2O) of the graz
ing fees paid in by permittees using
the same, and the moneys thus oh
tanned to be used for range improve
ment under the direction of the local
Forest officers charged with the ad-
ministration of said Forests.
BE 1T FURTHER RESOLVED.
that We petition that such moneys set
aside under the provisions of this pro-
posed Act Of Congress, be made cum
ulative from year to year until eX-
pended for the purposes of eradication
Of all poisonous plants or otherwise
protecting stock from them, and for
the construction of drift and other
fences, water improvements, trail con-
struction, and the opening up of new
ranges.
This resolution was passed and
adopted unanimously by the Gunnison
County Stock Growers Association,
in mid-winter meeting assembled at
Gunnison, Colorado, on the 29th day
of December, 1917.
Lewis H. Easterly,
Frank Comstock,
f. A. Foster,
7. w. Gray,
Resolution Committee.
Frank Comstock,
Pres. Gunnison County Stock Grow
ers' Association.
Roy S. Lobdell,
Secretary.