Gunnison news-champion., 1918-12-13
NATIONAL FOREST GRAZING
FEES TO BE INCREASED
Five Year Permits Authorized. VIII
Hit Gunnison Stockmcn Pretty Hard

Denver. Dec. Secretary Hous-
ton, believing that further suspension
Of the increase in national forest
grazing fees first decided on in 1916,
is no longer justified, has announced
new rates to 20 into effect March lst,
1919. Effective at the same time, he
authorized the granting of fiye-year
grazing permits where the conditions
warrant and such permits are desired
by the stockmcn.
In accordance with this decision,
forest service officials at the Denver
headquarters announce that the graz
ing fees for the 1919 season on the
national forests of the Rocky Noun
tain district will be as follows.
Cattle: Ycar-long rate, Colorado,
Wyoming, South Dakota Michigan
and Minnesota forests, Sl.00 each, ex-
cept Bighorn Forest, Wyoming, Sl.20,
and Nebraska forests, sl.50.
Sheep and goats: Iear-long rate,
Colorado and Wyoming forests, 25c.
each except Bighorn forest, Wyo-
ming, 30c.
Horses: Year-long rate, 25 per
cent more than cattle.
Swine: iearlong rate, 25 per
cent less lilan
On this basis, the charge for cattle
for the usual summer grazing season,
(5 months), will be SOC per head, and
for sheep, a months), l0c per head.
The original plan was to advance
grazing fees 33 and l-3 per cent year
beginning 1917, but on account of
the disturbed conditions which con-
fronted stockmen that year, the ad-
vance made was only 25 per cent;
while year later the emergency sit
uation created by the war, led Secre-
tary Houston to suspend temporarily
the further carrying out of the plan.
81 am not unmindful of the difficult
ties which still exist" he says 'but
under the circumstances it seems un-
wise to further defer action on this
important problem"
Regarding the authorizing of FIVE
year permits, the secretary goes on to
say:
"On several of the forests applica-
tions have already been approved for
permits during five-year period sub
ject to an annual reduction of five per
cent to provide for the issuance of
permits to new settlers, in addition to
such reduction as might be necessary
to prevent damage to the forest
ut appears that while the stockmen
are ready to subject themselves to
whatever restrictions are necessary
for the welfare of the forests from
the standpoint of timber production or
other primary purposes for which the
land was set aside, yet the possibility
of the five per cent annual reduction
proves an embarrassment to them.
1t is appreciated that the assurance Of
continued use of the range for q
specific number of animals during q
term of years would undoubtedly tend
to greater stability of the industry
and encourage the handling of busi-
ness in way to increase the quantity
and improve the quality of the live
stock, and would also enable a better
administration Of the range itself.
"On a considerable portion of the
national forests we have reached the
point where permits for period oi
five years can be put into effect with.
out difficulty. On certain other for.
ests we are not in a position to gram
five-year permits for more than a por
tion of the stock at present upon them
because there is a serious question
whether there is not now more stool
than can be carried permanently with
out injury to the forest. There is al
so the extra stock which has been tax
en- care of as war emergency, somt
of which we will not be able to con
tipue, and for that reason should no
be included under five-year permits.
"The issuance of annual permits vii
be continued where reductions ar
necessary to insure against over
stocking or where this may be requir
ed for any other reason. The plan i
progressively to bring about a NOR
secure tenure Of the grazing priv
lleges through the issuance Of fve-yea
permits Is fast Is this ean be done
consideration Of the various public b