The copper era and Morenci leader., 1919-07-18
ST0CKMEN SEEK J. $. CONTROL IF
 PUBLIC DOMAIN
Representatives from All Parts of the
 West to Meet in Salt Lake City July 21 To Urge Action by Congress

! Livestock men, insluding representa- i tlves Of all livestock association, from every part of the West will meet at Salt Lake City, July 21 to begin work toward securing control and grazing regulation of the more than 200, 100000 acres of public domain in the western states. The meeting will last two or three days and while in session steps will be taken to get congress to take legislative action for federal regulation of the lands
 | The meeting at Salt Lake a week from next Monday has ben brought about largely thorugh the efforts of the Arizona Cattle Growers associa- tion, which has taken the lead in the matter. The states affected will be Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana Nebraska, New Mexico, New ada, Utah Wyoming, Minnesota, Wash ington and Oregon the western states in which millions of acres of land are in public domain, owned by the gov ernment but with no regulated graz ing privileges. Livestock associations in all these states will have delegates at the Salt Lake meeting, as will the American National Livestock as- sociation, and the National Wool Growers association.
 Many Different Rules.
 The question of, the public domain lands relative to catle and sheep grow ing has always been uncertain. On the federal forest and Indian reservations livestock growers are given grazing privileges and charged dollar a head per year. On state lands the livestock men may lease grazing land at about three cents an acre per year. But graz ing on the public domain has never been regulated.
 Arizona cattle and sheep men have always been vitally interested in the public domain question. More than one fourth of the states acreage of 21 100000 acres is in this federal owned unregulated public domain Op- en to all, it has always been an un- solved question. It has been used generally for grazing purposes with be seriously harmed by much over- stocking and no regulations to safe- guard individual users.
 Big Factor in Arizona.
 Arizona livestock men-and the same conditions are found in other western states affected-have recognized that ! the public domain lands are a big fac tor in their business and consequently have taken the lead in getting the do- main regulated. "A systemi of regula- tion is sought by which the stock grow CTS may obtain their grazing privilges in one way or another, and pay for them. Having obtained the grazing privileges the stockmen will be sure of their investment and may fence off their portions, safeguard their waters and take like protective measures.
 Under the present system, with no regulation, the public domains are used by everybody and no one is willing to risk tn investment on the domain lands with no regulation at all.
 The question of federal control and regulation for the domain lands in the western states will be settled at the Salt Lake City conference July 21. Delegates from the livestock orgafliza- tions of all the public land states will be there to take it up, and strong organization will be formed to get act ion on it at Washington.
 S. c. Swift, secretary of the Green lee County Cattle Growers Associa- tion will be present to represent the Greenlee County Cattlemen at this