The Coconino sun., 1919-09-12

Growers Association and Forest Re- serve officials, called by the latter.
 The meeting was held in the offices of the Coconino National Forest. It began at II a. m., and lasted nearly all of the afternoon, with an adjourn ment for lunch. Among the Forest Reserve men present were Paul G. Redington, district forester in charge of the Southwest District National Forests, of Albuquerque; John Kerr, assistant district forester, in charge of grazing, of Albuquerque; Paul H. Roberts, inspector of grazing, Albu- querque; E. G. Miller, supervisor of Coconino National Forest; K. c. Kartchner, deputy; R. L. Deering, supervisor Prescott National Forest; J. c. McNulty, deputy; Frank Grubb, deputy-supervisor Tusayan National Forest.
 For the wool growers, Second Vice President James Scott, of Pinedale, presided in the absence of President Hugh Campbell. Judge F. w. Per kins, secretary of the association, was present, as were also the following ad- visory board members: John Hennes- sey, George Campbell and A. J. Le- Barron, for the Coconino National Forest; Lou Charlebois, F. D. By and c. E. Howard, for the Tusayan Ma tional Forest; John Nelson, of Heber, and James Scott, of Pinedale, for the Sitgreaves National Forest. Hennes- sey and LeBarron also represented the Prescott National Forest. Apache National Forest, where there are no trails involved, was not represented.
 Mir. Redington explained the pur- pose of the meeting-to get the opin- ions of the sheepmen regarding the proposed trail toll. This toll, he ex- plained, if adopted, would amount to a maximum of 5 cents per head for the round trip on the long trails and minimum of 2 cents per head for the round trip on the short trails. He said that the Forest Service wanted to use the money obtained in that way as fund to provide more men to con trol the sheep on the trails. He said it cost nearly $6,000 for sheep guards last year; that there were frequent cases of exasperating and fragrant trespassers; that this required more men; that he believed the sheepmen should defray this necessary extra ex- pense. @
 Right there the meeting got excit- ing. Were the sheepmen ready to acquiesce?
 Not so it could be noticed.
 E. A. Sawyer, of Winslow, said the grazing fee had been raised, that all other expenses had gone up, that the prices of lambs and wool are now go- ing down, and that if the government added to the burdens of the sheepmen there would be less production. This would not only mean hardship for the growers, but would operate directly and greatly against the government campaign to lower the cost of living. .E. H. Dufield, of Williams, asked whether the Forest Service did not have sufficient funds on hand to hire and pay the extra guards needed. MT. Reddington said they had, but they needed this money and much more for other forest improvements.
 Lou Charlebois wanted to know why the government didn't make the lum- bermen pay for the government scalers.
 MT. Dufield kept insisting that as long as the Forest Reserve had enough money to pay for the guards the question was closed. He was so abrupt and insistent on the point that Mir. Redington felt called upon to po- litely call him down by reminding him that dhe Forest Reserve had no de- sire to put anything over, but had called the meeting for friendly dis cussion of the proposition. The cour- tesy and moderation shown by the other growers in their presentation of arguments finally prevailed over MT. Duffield's caustic manner, and har- mony resumed it's beneicent sway. Mir. Scott said the government was no more justified in imposing this ex- pense on the growers than it would be if it were to charge the people using the Mississippi river and the various harbors with the cost of all improve ments. He said the government