The Coconino sun., 1923-03-16
COL. W. B. GREELEY,
THE CHIEF FORESTER

Oftentimes a person or a business
has a psychological frame of mind
spelling anxiety or restlessness. There
are reasons that create such an attl-
tude in business and render an uTl-
stable condition that otherwise would
not obtain.
The range stock industry is very
sensitive business, responding quickly
to direct or superficial action. Any
business that is closely allied with
the supervisory powers of govern
ment, whether or not it may be con-
sidered of excessive interference or
red tape, and of irregular markets
and extreme hazard, like the range
stock business, would logically be a
sensitive, delicate proposition. It's
natural hazards demand as solid a
footing or foundation as can be built
up. Taken in this light, perhaps no
other business is in the same category
as the range cattle business.
Most of the permittees have had oc-
casion to feel that in the administra-
tive functions of the forest service
these essential conditions have been
overlooked. They have felt that the
forest service has not gone deep
Piles of the business, and has not
therefore shown proper sympathy
for them. Complete confidence in the
forest service, therefore, has been
lacking, leaving an atmosphere of
anxiety and uncertainty.
But things are changing. Hard
times have awakened the stockmen,
and also the service. The range stock
business of Arizona must start over
again, and the forest service is max
ing an earnest effort to go to the
bottom of the industry and help to put
it on a permanent, stable basis. We
predict that the service will do it, and
that the job will be done by the chief
forester, Colonel w. B. Greeley.
Two weeks ago the secretary of our
association had the second opportunity
of discussing Arizona conditions with |
Col. Greeley. Col. Greeley has made |
two long trips of review over Arizona |
forests during the past year, and only |
by knowing the keenness and shrewd-
ness of this man, one can appreciate |
the fund of first-hand information he
is gathering. He is getting to enjoy
the smell of the beans and bacon of |
the cowpuncher; he is learning of the
hardships, the hard work day in and |
day out, and the pioneering of the |
range cow game, to afford even a |
bare existence for the permittee and |
his family; he is observing the flimsy /
structure upon which the business has |
had to operate. He is, in word, |
seeing how badly the business needs /
stability long term permit on
which the permittee can plan, rea-
sonable grazing fee, better manage
ment,, larger calf crops, less restrict
i've provisions, and all that. He has /
asked our cooperation in working out |
these problems; he wants US to back /
up our arguments by facts, and it
will be our own fault if through a /
failure on our part to help him what
we may feel are proper solutions to
these problems are not made.
The personality and fairness of Col.
Greeley have injected spirit of con-
fidence into the whole situation. He
is out not only to help the livestock
industry, but to put the forest grazing
on a solid, popular basis. The per-
mittees of Arizona are mighty fortuu-
ate at the critical period to have
man like Col. Greeley at the helm.
Much of our trouble has been due to
the lack of recognition of proper
viewpoint as to our range conditions
and needs at Washington. Col. 4
Greeley is the first man holding such
position to take the interest to secure
first-hand, accurate knowledge of our
range business and to have the cour-
age to express himself honestly and
frankly in support of his convictions.
We are strong for him.-National
Forest Permittee's Bulletin.