The Record-courier. [volume] (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1904-current, 1923-02-23
NO INCREASE in
GRAZING RATES

There will be no increase In fees
charged for grazing livestock ON the
national forests until 1925, says Col.
W. B. Greeley. chief of the forest
service. in a Telegram to the national
wool growers association, just made
public. Col. Greeley in his telegram
states:
"The forest service is committed to
a policy of establishing the use Of
public stock ranges to the fullest pos
sible degree. 1t is my purpose to
put grazing on the national forests
under term permits extending any
reductions in numbers of permitted
stock during that period except for
violation OF the terms or when COM.
PEELED in emergencies to protect the
range. 1t Is also my purpose to push
aggressively the improvement of the
national forest ranges through fenc-
ing, water development, and the Grad
ication of poisonous plants. l am
convinced that this program for sta
bilizing the livestock industry and
increasing the utility of national
forest ranges requires that our graz
ing fees be based upon the reasonable
commercial value of the forage.
Nothing else will give stockmen who
use national forest a sound and per-
manent basis for their business which
will hold public support. Nothing
else will justify the forest service
in developing its plan for stable use
Of national forest ranges under long
term permits. For the last two
years the forest service has conducted
an exhaustive appraisal of national
forest ranges to determine their
reasonable commercial value consider
ing quality and accessibility of each
range and restrictions imposed by
the government. Results of this In
vestigation will be submitted to stock
associations for joint consideration
of all facts involved and determine
tion of grazing fees for the next five
year period. The forest service is
committed to this program as an
essential part Of the plan to stabilize
use of public ranges. But l recog-
nize the bad effects of any increase
in grazing fees while the livestock
industry is suffering acutely from
economic collapse following the
World war. with the added handi-
caps of burdesomes freight rates and
of drouth in some regions. Conse-
quently have recommended to the
secretary of agriculture that the new
grazing fees be not put into effect
until the season of 1925. This will
necessitate postponement of our new
plan of term permits of more
stable character until that date"
For the first ten years after the
national forests were placed under
the supervision of the agriculture
department only nominal charge
was made for permits to Craze live
stock, However, 1t was realized that
excepting for pioneer period, the
charge of our government must even
tually be based upon its fair COM
mercial value. As steps toward such
valuation, a moderate increase was
made In grazing fees In 1918 and
again in 1919. at which time the
stockmen using national forest ranges
were given five-year permits expiring
at the close of 1923. Coincident with
the issuance of such permits, the
stockmen were advised that the va
rious national forest ranges would
be carefully appraised during that Pc
riod and fees adjusted accordingly
for new five-year period beginning
in 1924, and that the new fees would
beannounced In 1928. The work of
range appraisal has advanced to
where 1t Is now evident that a read
justment of fees would result in a
marked increase in the grazing
charges on many national forests
However, the livestock industry in
the west is suffering severely from
economic collapse following the war
and aggravated by the climatic con-
ditions which have been unfavorable
to the industry In a number of west
ern states. It is, therefore, felt by
forestry officials that It would be
unwise to take action at this time
which would result in increasing
their burdens. For this reason the
forestry has recommended and the
secretary of agriculture has approved
the postponement of the readjustment
of fees until the grazing season of
1925. According to forestry officials
the postponement Of readjustment
should not be construed as In any
way indicating departure from the
original intention to establish and
adhere to the commercial value prin-
ciple, which is felt to be absolutely
sound and which they believe will In
the long run prove most acceptable