Gunnison news-champion., 1920-02-27
STOCKMEN CONTINUE THEIR
PROTEST ABOUT GRAZING
fContinued from First pagel

Continued from First Page)
ing conditions BY REDUCING their
fees. rather than by increasing them.
An Increase IN range fees means an eN-
ira expense in raising live stock. and II
the producers are to avoid bankruptcy,
the consumer must and ultimately will
pay the bill, Your eastern feeder can
only. remain in business. if the western
produccr can raise the product to sup
ply him Present prices are touching
the pfuhibItIye point from the consum-
er's standpoint as we'll as from the
produeer's standpoint.
Permit US to call your attention to
ne Tact that, as soon as war was de-
clared, every producer was urged To
increase his holdings to the limit. un.
der the slogan Food viii win the
war. Your patriotic stockman did
not slack in his duty. but put aside the
chance for temporary gain and did
withhold his stock from market and
carried TO full capacity his farm and
rah.e hoidings. Then the Government
arbitrarily passed the meatless aay
law, destroying the market for live
stock. until the end of the war found
Us with surpl lus of stock, and now
the money exchange rates have de-
creased the export demand, and we
are holding the Fatted Calf, produced
at great expense and deprecated
from 25 to 80 per cent in value. Now
to reward US for our patriotism. self
sacrfice and unselfishness you pro-
pose TO add insult to injury BY impos-
ing destructive. range fee upon us.
our products show a greater decline
y, values than any other commodity.
we Were not at any time during the
last three years permitted to take adj
vantage of the exorbitant profits to
tide us over periods of stress. that the
iaborer ana manufacturer enjoyed and
are. still enjoying. When this oppor
tunity presented itself. the Govern
ment stepped in and arbitrarily tackled
the price on our meats, wool and grain.
The war took most of our best men i'm in
uniform, the rest We're lured away
from US by wages that would be con-
hscatory IN our business. Our pro-
ducts have tumbled. Everything that
We use from labor to machinery, as
well as TRANSPORTATION services have
Coupled ana trebled in prices. and the
quality and efficiency at the same time
depreciafinR so per cent in value.
Regarding the relative value of
range conditions as compared to pri-
vate pastures. without at this time
Celebrating the details, we ask YOU 10
consider the following before Judging
the merits Of each:
The relative great distance from
railroad, to markets.
The loss entailed by long drives to
and from range
The difference in carving Capacity
per acre on the forests. forcing stock
to travel great distances in search Of
food and water.
The loss Incidental to storms. light
ming, predatory animals. high altitude
and rough topography of the country.
The difficulty of breeding our cows
In rough mountainous regions, the in
ability to keep close watch over the
stock on account of the extent and
character of the country.
The expense and danger of hauling
and placing salt in proper places on
the high range.
The increased cost and difficulty in
getting men who are willing to stay
in these remote and isolated camps.
who have. to do, their. own cooking,
horseshoeing and washing and who
are familiar with the range.
The shrifkage incidental to round-
ups and gathering time. holding the
herd on poor feed for days until the
gathering is completed. and then
driving without feed or water, in many
cases for from two to three days, be-
fore the cattle are finally distributed
to their respective winter quarters.
Loss due to poisonous plants. Mud
holes that mire the stock. especially
IN TSe The iplit Utility to give close supervis-
ion to the stock on account Of the wide
area Of distribution.
Many Of the above mentioned facts
contribute to . calf crop running from
40 per cent to 90 per cent as compared
with tie 30 per. cent or IS per cent
calf crup. in private pastures Loss
of ranne live stock amounts to 10 per
cent W6o4eoB in private pastures less
than per cent Is lost
On aceUQnt Of the general mixing Of
large nunbers Of cattle on the ranee.
the danGer fs Always great from IN
fection. ShArcoptic and Saruptie
Mango n cattle; scabies. tiek, infec-
ton aAa hemorrhaGic septicemia in