The Coconino sun., 1923-08-03
HOW THE NEW GRAZING
FEE WILL BE FIXED

During the many years of grazing
jurisdiction over the national forest
areas by the forest service, it has been
evident that more interest and activ-
ity have prevailed among the users
on the subject of fees charged than on
any other question.
The money involved in any transac-
tion or proposition is vital phase,
and necessarily tied in with the value
of the consideration and its conditions
Of operation.
There is considerable work imme-
diately ahead of our association in this
question of a new grazing fee. The
new regulations provide that upon the
proposed adjustment of present
charges, these fees may be subject t,
review and change by the forester at
intervals Of five years. By having
the fees fixed for periods of five years
and then modified in accordance with
definite and business-like methods, it
is obvious that the fee question will
be stabilized.
The new rates will be based upon an
appraised value of the range, deter
mined by rules made to apply to the
local conditions obtaining. In the dis
cussions at the recent Denver confer
ence on proposed grazing fees, it was
agreed that the new rates should be
just and reasonable, based upon, ~
a proper use of the grazing resources
to best serve the public interest, (2)
a reasonable consideration of value OF
the forage to users, and (3) effect
of the rates upon the stock-raising
industry.
1t may be stated to our permittees
that it is the intention of the forest
service within a very short time to
reach conclusive ideas as to what the
grazing fees should be upon the per-
manent basis as planned.
The forest service now for two
years has been gathering data on
which to substantiate new system of
charges based on appraised value of
the forage, the range and accessories.
The officials are now rounding up"
their information to the point of
reaching conclusions which will be
submitted to the stockmen and their
associations.
Similarly, our association has been
formulate definite ideas on grazing
charges, and as proceeded with in the
matter of regulations, conferences will
DE held by our association representa-
tives with forest service officials with
the purpose of coming into agreement
as to what may be considered just and
reasonable fees to be charged on Ari
ona ranges.
AS announced before, certain factors
will enter into the adoption of fee
based on the appraised value of the
forage. Such factors principally
would be topography, accessibility of
range, kind, density and palatibility of
the forage, improvements placed on
the range. water developed i1rfheyin-
terest of better utilization, marketing
facilities, range handicaps and COM
parison with value of outside range.
With more or less Of concentration
Of the service and ourselves on this
matter, now that the regulations have
been disposed Of, we urge the permit
tees to give to the service, as well as
to their association, every assistance
within their power, to the end that the
matter may be adjusted quickly and
satisfactorily to all. Not only does
our association want to be constantly
alive to all the conditions in Arizona
entering into the initiating of the new
system of fees, but we are endeavor-
ing to become familiar with condi-
tions in other states on which compar-
ative values can be determined.
Our permittees have been to no lit
tie extent drilled in the principles I'M.
der which the forest service having in
view a new system of charges, has
been working, through articles appear
ing in our Monthly Bulletin, and in
direct and roadside" talk with for
est people and fellow stockmen, and
we urge the permittees to write our
of specific points that may
come into their minds through an am
alysis of these principles. We can all
how essential is the work
Of our association in this project, but
it is imperative that nothing be left
undone to bring our conditions fully
before the service.