The Coconino sun., 1926-11-26
LIVESTOCK EXPERT
SUGGESTS CHANGES
FOREST GRAZING FEES

Upholding the methods used by the
forest service, U. S. department of
agriculture in appraising range val
ues and fixing fees for grazing IN ma
tional forests, but recommending
somewhat smaller increases than
those proposed, the report of Dan d.
Easement, expert livestock grower OF
Colorado Springs, appointed by the
secretary of agriculture to make an
impartial review Of this whole sub
iect, is now in the hands of Secretary
VIM. NJ Jardine A final conference
with the stockmen will be held by the
secretary in Salt Lake City during
the latter part of January.
Differences over grazing fees IN
the national forests have existed since
the boom days of the livestock indus
try in 1920 when members of con-
gress from the middle west urged
large increase in the charges for gra-
zing on national lands. The forest
service undertook at that time to
make a comprehensive appraisal OF
the value of the national forest ran
ges based upon the rentals paid for
similar lands in private ownership.
1t IS stated by the forest service that
this work was completed in 1925 but
that it's results have not been applied
because Of the depressed economic
conditions in the livestock industry.
Meantime many stockmen have OPP
posed the principle of valuing range
lands in the national forests by the
same commercial standards prevail
ing in the case Of state and private
pastures. The differing viewpoints
on this question were among the rea-
sons that led to an investigation of
the national forests last year by the
senate seeking both to settle what the
range charges should be and to give
the livestock industry more clearly
defined rights to the use of the for
age in national forests.
The Easement report sustains the
method of appraising national forest
ranges on commercial principles SIM
liar to those controlling the value of
private range lands. 1t commends
the thoroughness of the appraisals
made by the forest service, which
were based on five years of intensive
investigation covering 1000 tracts of
private grazing land which contain
over 20 million acres. 1t also asserts
that national forest administration
has benefited the livestock industry
and that there is a greater demand
for grazing permits than can be sup
piled. Mr.. Easement recommends,
however, chat the new grazing fees
be somewhat lower than those orig
inally proposed by the forest service
and that, in consideration of the gem
eral economic condition OF the live
stock industry, they be put into ef-
F. In
over the period from 1927 to 1880.
The grazing industry has much less
to expect from specific and rigid
grazing legislation, in Mr.. Easements
opinion, than from flexible, sensible
administrative rules, based on conf
dence and good understanding be-
tween forest officers and users. He
thinks it desirable, however, to give
legal recognition to forage as a ma
tional forest resource to be perma-
nently utilized.
Grazing permittees are united and
forceful in their demand that ade-
quate appropriations be made by con-
gress for range improvements. They
certainly deserve far greater consid-
Grafton in this regard than they have
ever received. More fences and wa
ter development would contribute
largely to the proper conservation of
the forests, to their greater useful
ness, to the profits of the permittee,
and to government revenues derived
from grazing To withhold the means
needed to make these improvements
appears to be an absurd and short
sighted policy. Permittees would
cheerfully pay increased fees if they
could be assured that q sum equal TO
the increases would be made avail
able for range improvements
The GAO acres grazing homestead
law is scored as having been Of no
benefit to the homesteader and of
immense harm to the grazing indus
try through breaking up the grazing
ranges and even serving for the use
Of blackmail The national forest
homestead act likewise is criticized
as having been of little use to set
tiers and as an obstacle to national
forest range administration.
w. B. Greeley, chief of the forest
service, in commenting on the Case
ment report said: "It paves the way
for quick adjustment of a compli-
Gated question with fairness to the
user Of forest range an dthe public
interests involved. After thorough
consideration and detailed recheck-
ing of our range appraisals, | have
recommended the acceptance of Mr.
Easements proposals in establishing
the new schedule of grazing fees.
Secretary Jardine, however, will not
take final action until he has con-
ferred with representatives of the
stock industry. Such a conference
viii be held the latter part of Jan
uarY at Salt Lake CitYn