Gunnison news-champion., 1920-07-02
CHANGE IN GRAZING
RULES TO BE SOUGHT
Present Law Hardship To New Own
ers. Premit rights Attach To Cat
tie and Individuals Instead of Prop
erty-Inspection Board To Try to
Have Government Make Adjustment


Record Stocllman:-
Complaint was made 10 the State
Stock Inspection Inspection Board at
their meeting on Monday that under
the present regulations Of the forest
service number of ranches on the
western slope have changed hands, and
the new owner finds that he will have
no range rights for his cattle on the
forest reserve. The board appointed a
special committee consisting of the
president, Thomas W. Stevens, with
the commissioners, Il. c. Callen and J.
c. Temple, 10 investigate and report
to the board.
Under the present arrangement of
the forest reserve the range rights,
while affected more or less by the po-
a.Iion of the ranch, do not attach to
the property but to the individual. In
selling n ranch. therefore,, the same cat
tie owned by the previous holder of the
land and for which he has permission
TO Craze upon the forest reserve, must
be purchased by the new owner if he
would acquire the range rights on the
reserves.
Several instances were cited where
this was not done and the purchasers
of the ranches We're afterwards noti-
fed that they would have no right on
the reserve after the present season.
Affects Sale of Land
This situation is having serious ef-
feet upon the sale of ranches adjacent
TO forest reserves as purchasers find
ing out that they have no right to run
live stock except on the ranches are
refusing to purchase such ranchs.
Ranches having range rights upon the
public domain are most sought at the
present time and principally for the
purchasers are not interfered with in
the grazing of their cattle.
The committee appointed by the
stock board began their Investigations
yesterday by calling upon the forestry
service officers at Denver. At the
present time the copmittee is if the
opinion that the range rights upon the
forest reserves should attach to the
ranches adjacent to the reserves and
unless good reason can be shown why
these ranches should not possess graz
ing rights on the reserves, regardless
of ownership, an effort will be made
TO have the regulations of the forest
service changed.
Present Rules Complicated
The present regulations regarding
the range rights on the reserves are
very much complicated. The COM
mittee will go into them thoroly be-
fore the next monthly meeting of the
board and at that time will make
their recommendation. IL the COM
mittee decides that it is best to have
the range rights on these reserves at
tached to the adjacent ranches per-
manently, an effort viii be started to
gpcllre that result
There is no question but what there
is a great deal of misunderstanding
not only among the forest officers but
among others as well in regard to the
right to use the forest reserves for
grazing. OF course some forests are
overstocked or stocked to their capa-
city, in which case it is necessary for
all users to submit to a reduction in
the number of cattle they are permit
ted to Craze.
In many sections also the only graz
ing to be had is included upon the
forest reserves and if the purchaser of
a ranch finds that he is unable to Sc
cure a forest reserve right for graz
ing, the value of the ranch is depre-
ciated very materially, and in fact it
is doubtful whether such ranches can
be sold at any kind Of price.
ottuAttOu lB SeLlOub
The situation is serious in many
parts of Colorado and large number
Of deals that are pending for ranches
will depend upon the position taken by
the forest officers in regard to the
grazing rights. The stock inspection
board will go into the matter thoroly
with the local forest officers and will
be glad to secure any information that
can be had from stockmen who are at
present using the grazing on forest
reserves.
II it is decided that the attaching of
grazing rights to adjacent ranches is
the best way out of the difficulty the
Stock Inspection board will start a.
movement to have the forest regula
tions ammended so grazing rights up
on the reserves will attach permanent
ly to the ranches This can only be
done thru the secretary Of agriculture,
but il il can be shown that the action
is best for all concerned it is possible
that the regulations can be changed
q