The Winslow mail., 1923-12-21
GRAZING PERMIT
WILL BE FOR TEN YEARS
BEGINNING WITH 1925

! A revised system of regulations gov
erning grazing in the Coconino nat
iOnal forest, including an extension
of the present five-year permits to 10
! years has been authorized by the for
estry authorities, according to advices
received by Forest Supervisor E. G.
Miller of Flagstaff But the granting
of 10-year permits does not be-
gin next year, but with the year fol-
| lowing, Mr.. Miller advises.
There will be no change in grazing
fees for 1924. The two-payment plan
will be followed, same as last year,
half of the fees being due on or be-
fore the opening of next springs
grazing season, or before the stock
enters the forest, the second half on
or before December 1, 1924 When
the total amount due is $40 or less,
full payment is required before the
opening of the season.
The present five-year permits ex-
pire March 1, 1924. In view of the
forester's desire to postpone the ad-
| justment of grazing fees until the be-
ginning of the season of 1925, the
issuance Of term permits will be sus-
pended for one year to make the next
permit period coincide with the atd-
! jusedted fees Permits issued for the
season of 1924 will be for one year
only. The forester has definitely de-
cided to issue permits at the begin
ming of the 1925 season for 10-year
periods.
Applications for permits for 1924
are due at the local forestry office on
or before January 20, 1924.
1t is possible there will be a 10 per
cent reduction in stock on the range
at the end of the first half of the 10
year period.
1t is felt that the extention of time
| in the permits will react favorable in
every way. Bankers will be more
willing to loan. Stockmen will be en-
couraged to make greater range i'm
provements and also to conserve the
range The whole tendency will be to
stabilize conditions.
The allowance of stock on the range
for 1924 has been cut some. Of cat
tie and horses, 1000 will be allowed
to Craze in the forest, or reduction
of $500. Sheep and goats have been
reduced 5000 head, the number al
! lowed next year being $4,000. Num-
Der of hogs increased from 200 to 500.
Over the Mud Tanks trail, $4,000
sheep will be allowed to pass twice
next year; over the Beaver Head trail,
10000 to $4,000 sheep, and over the
Bear Springs trail, 10000 on this end
and $4,000 on the Tusayan extension.
The forest service strongly advises
stockmen to do everything possible to
cooperate with the U. S. biological
survey in the determination of prairie
dogs. Forest Supervisor Miller says
that 100000 to 100000 acres of the
best grazing land in the Coconino nat
ional forest is infested. They are not
only consuming forage, but are de-
stroying the range 1t is felt that ex-
| tending permits to 10 years will en-
courage the stockmen to greater eff
forts against this pest. 1t is also
{ hoped that a certain part of the graz
ing fees may evntually be set aside
for this purpose.
The policy of the service, Super
visor Miller says, is to issue 1O-year
permits only on the amount of stock
the range can be counted on to carry
safely over the 10-year period. This
meets the approval of most of the
stockmen, who realize that conserva-
ton of the range is not only import
ant to them, but is also as important
to the welfare of the state and coun-
try, as the conservation of our miner
al and timber resources. Stockmen
have come to understand that the
range cannot prof1tably be abused by
OvergraZing.