Arizona state miner., 1925-06-27

I0o PUBIC hearings just COuClUC-
ed by the subcommittee on public
lands in it's investigation of condi-
tions on the public lands and their
administration have been eXtraOrdin-
ariIy successful from every point of
view" was the emphatic answer made
by Ralph H. Cameron, United States
Senator from Arizona, when question
ed concerning the results obtained by
the subcommittee recent proceedings
that has held the attention Of the
press and public of the state for more
than two weeks.
Without going one step farther
with the investigation, the highly sat
isfactory results already obtained
thoroughly justify the investigation,
continued the Senator. '"The morale
of the stockmen of the state has been
raised to high degree, and this is
saying much, for I have never seen
their spirits so low. In fact, 1 be-
Heve that the stockraising industries
of the state have been saved. Not
only have the Stockmen been given
encouragement, but the homeSteader,
the prospectOr, the Indian, the rail-
roads, and others have been promised
assistance in working out problems
years old that have been preventing
their full proper development and the
development of Arizona.
when the subcommittee began to
hold hearings in Arizona, there was
a very evident show of timidity on
the part of StOckmen and others to
tell their troubles. 1t seemed that
they would not be brought to realize
that it was possible for them to re-
ceive sympathetic consideration or
assistance in solving problems which
involved overtures with the federal
government or its agents. All this
attitude was with some considerable
effort soon overcome, and in short
order the committee was meeting with
the cOwmen and the miners even in
night session, SO eager were they to
unburden themselves of long stand
ing worries. Their willingness to CO.
operate with the committee in it's
work has been the means of giving
it an insight into conditions that GER
tainIy could not be obtained in any
other way. Night sessions were con-
Quoted at Prescott, Flagstaff, the
Grand Canyon, st. Johns and at
Springerville.
Immediate Aid Conceded
$50 conclusive was the testimony
and evidence concerning the deplor-
able state of affairs on the federal
public lands in Arizona, that Col.
VIM. B. Greeley, chief of the United
States forest service, did not wait for
the final termination of the investi-
cation, but when on the stand at
Flagstaff practically conceded every
request the disheartened stockmen
made. 1t appeared that the Chief
Forester had been obtaining his views
of conditions through the eyes of his
subordinates. don't believe that
Col. Greeley will permit this to occur
again, and much credit is due him
for his comm endable attitude in lend
ing his immediate assistance and not
delaying improvements and otherwise
obstructing the industries of the state
as he probably to some extent could
do" the Senator explained.
Colonel Greeley is now favorably
impressed by the need of a system
of giving long term leases on graz
ing lands in the national forests, with
provisions for the government to sue
and be sued. The matter of allot-
ments will be worked out so that the
great troubles due to the dual graz
ing of sheep and cattle on the same
land will be eliminated. The contem-
plated reduction of livestock to be
permitted to Craze in the national for
eStS will be held in allegiance. Stock
driveways will be widened so that in
the future it will not be possible to
lose thirty per cent of a lamb crop
when driving flocks from one range
to another. It is not commonly known
that at places these driveways have
been narrowed to about twenty five
feet when they are supposed to be
five miles wide.
Certain theories of demonstration
have been exploded. and it has been
ascertained that a reasonable amount
of grazing will not be harmful to the
reproduction of forests, but will be
highly beneficial from the standpoint
of forest fire prevention. Further
more, the chief forester has stated
that he will come West to see that
his orders for the many improvements
will be carried satisfactorily in every
detail"
Favored Maine Highway
"a significant statement made By
the chief forester in answer to di-
rect question put to him was that he
approved the building of the Maine
Grand Canyon highway in the north
ern part of Arizona and was in favor
of congress appropriating 100000 to-