The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-04-24
PRESERVE U. S.
PUBLIC LANDS,
URGES ICKES
Taylor Bill Will Safeguard
100000 Acres
From Ruin.
BY HAROLD L. ICKES
Secretary Of the Interior

papers
WASHINGTON. April 24-Ap-
proximately 100000 acres Of
public land will be saved from de-
struction By passage Of the ad-
ministration's grazing bill. This
measure, introduced in the house
by Representative Edward T. Tay-
Tor Of Colorado already has passsd
that body and now IS before the
senate public lands committee for
action.
The acreage represents -unre-
served. unappropriated public lands
still held by the federal govern
ment, situated almost wholly in
eleven western states, the chief val
ue Of which is for grazing. This
vast area, larger than all OF
France, is in the process Of rapid
deterioration and heading toward
certain complete destruction be-
cause of overgraZing. There has
been no charge and no restriction
in the past, and there is none now.
The result is that the land is badly
overgrazed.
Deterioration Of such land is pro-
gressive. Removal or considerable
reduction Of the covering forage
crop makes the land a ready prey
10 wind and water erosin, which in
time reduces land to a desert status
from which it can not recover for
many centuries, if ever.
Grave National Problem
The situation facing my depart
ment as custodian of the public
domain should be a source of grave
national concern. Certain stock
men are seeking assured grazing
privileges. regardless of the ulti-
mate result. while the federal gov
eminent is working for the cOnServ-
alton and wise development of this
valuable natural resource. The bill.
which has my full Endorsement as
we'll as that of Agriculture Secretary
Henry A. Wallace. addresses itself
to a more orderly use of the graz
ing resources.
The Taylor bill makes no DISPOSE
ton of this public domain. It pro-
videS for creation of grazing dis
tricts to be administered by the in
terror department in cooperation
with interested local stoCkmenS as
sOciatiOns.
Specifically. the measure seeks to
stop injury to the public domain,
provide for its orderly use. improve
ment and development, and to sta
billie the livestock industry. Mineral
resources are fully protected by eX-
tension of mineral laws to areas that
may be included in grazing districts.
Rights-of-w through grazing dis
tricts for railroads, highways, canals,
power lines. and the like, are pro-
tected in the Taylor measure. Also.
authority is contained in the bill for
continuation of 100 and 320-acre
homesteads for lands within con-
templated grazing districts where
the land may be found to be more
valuable for agriculture than for its
native forage crop.
Plan Has Wide Support
The bill in substantially its pres
ent form was supported by some of
my predecessors in Office. and has
the unqualified Endorsement of the
national land use planning COM
mittee, the American Game ASso-
citation, the American Civic ASso-
citation. the American Forestry As
ISOLATION. the American Farm Blu
reau Federation. as we'll as that of
numerous grazing associations and
individual cattle and sheep men.
Two grazing districts such as the
Taylor bill contempt -eS are now
being successfully ana satisfactorily
operated by the interior department
one in Montana known as the
Mizpah-Pumpkin creek grazing
district. the other in California
known as the Owena River Valley
grazing district. The success there
in itself justifies the conclusion
that regulated grazing on the re-
naming public lands will prove
decided advantage to the grazing
industry and TO the public generally.
Grazing on national forest lands
has been regulated since creation
of such reserves. and has proven
complete success.
Grazing on public lands is pri-
marily for winter forage, whereas
the national forest lands, national
forests grazing lands are essentially
for summer grazing. Passage of
the Taylor measure will coordinate
the grazing use of both areas.