The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-03-24
Disposition of the Remaining Public Domain in New Mexico
Isl Matter of Vital Interest to 4 Cattle Growers of the State

n xANy mstters Of vital importance TO The graz
IVI me inansiry are to be diseussrd during the
anhnsi convention Of The New Mexico Cat.
fr AID Horse 9rowers' association which
opcps q three days se<sion herr tomorrow. We
doubt however. II there k aps slngle question that
- 81 a. great lnpoftnnca both 10 the cattle industry
and 70 Ne state - y the disposition Of the remain.
ing nn-occupied public domain in New Mexico. Ex.
elusive OF National Forests and Indian reservations,
this remainder totals nineteen million acres, one.
seventh 81 The total ana Of the state. Practically
every ucre Of a. tina; n " uny possible USE. 4 "a use
only as grazing land The aFea thag can be farmcd
- relatively negligible. Al Il stands today the
whole AREA. although IL il uominally open range.
- 81 no pretticsl use TO any one becausr ia status
A. absolutely uncertain. ita very existence in ITS pres.
emf state tends TO keep disturbed aud uncertain.
rather then 70 stabilize the grazing industry.
u y pretty generally agreed that something is
- De done win the remaining unoccupicd public
domain IN The public land states; that the prescui
national land policy - due for revision. Failure Of
the 6f0-nere grazing homestead law bss served TO
direct Intelligent attention 70 the use Of the public
domain, OF 20 its possibilities for usefulness The
result will be action Of some kind W Che near future.
Two courses are open. One u the adoption hy
eongress Of y national permit law hy which the un-
occup'ed public lands would be leased 10 the graz
mg industry IN tracts Of a sire for practical. prodne-
tive use and Tor periods Of time sufficient 20 give
The lessor permanently IA his business operations.
The other - 70 dispose Of the whole public land
"""ff" ~ WV " Y" NNANNIf ~ kIuhtAUN ~ tufff
state the uncccupicd area Of federal lands within
~ borders There are many powerful arguments
Tor each plan and each has many powerful advo-
caies Many livestock growers arc disposed TO al.
Nocafe The leasing system aud work for II, not be.
cause they believe Il The best Of the two courses
open, but because they DO not believe the general
Erani 10 The states can be- secured from congress.
That the national leasing system would he better
inHn The present condition a c conclusion reached
by nearly all who have studied the question.
IL n By no means certain, however. thai a gen
cral grant 20 the states cannot be had from con.
rre<s now or in the near future. Members ~ roni
grcss in steadily increasing numbers, are realizing
that the present pubic land policy il moi getting
The nation nywhere that Il Is not providing horac,
sor homeless people. because homeless people. oven
with money behind them. cannot make iivings on
such land ~ remains appropriated that devotion.
mcui OF the public land states il being held back bv
the large areas % federal lands withheld from
stable, permanent uses and from the tax rolls Of the
several states.
A lease or permit law would be better for the
grazing industry of New Mezicp Than the present
condition. Indirectly Il would be better for the
state IN Just 10 frr % i might stabilize the grazing
industry aud add 10 IL prosperity. II fair rates OF
leasing wcre established. however. the state would
get little or no direct revenue FROM q national lcas
ing system.
There u no reason to hope for any reduction.
under a national leasing law, Of the noioriously
heavy cost OF the federal land administration anil
even should the states be given half If the net rev.
enne from leaves that holt. after dcductiug admin.
ntration costs, would be very small.
Moreover siockmen probably do not expect amy
more liberal or more practical administration Of