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Show NWS HIGH GRAZING FEES MEEPFIIL Secretary of Agriculture Outlines Objects of Department De-partment Rule. REASON FOR INCREASE Charges Eventually Will Be Based on Value of Forage For-age Available. AVith the high oost of living, or of even existing1, in extern centers ol' population the national problem of the hour, every elements that enters into the raising and production of food, and Tjrt especially ot meats, is being keen--ly scrutinized, by the federal govern-merit govern-merit and also by the producers themselves. them-selves. The -5 per ceut flat arbitrary increase in-crease by the United States department of agriculture on grazing fees for cattle cat-tle and sheep in the national forests, with the announced intention that further fur-ther increase miirht be expected, has aroused both interest and comment favorable fa-vorable and adverse in Utah. The state gets a liberal percentage of the receipts of the forest reserve revenue on grazing operations, as well as on the sale of tiniber. This money is apportioned among the counties of the state for school and road purposes in proportion to the area of the forest reserves in the respective states. For this reason county commissioners and district school hoards favor the increase in-crease because of the direct beneficial results to their interests. To Benefit People. The cattlemen, through T. W. Tom-linson, Tom-linson, secretary of the American National Na-tional Livestock association, have taken tiie matter up with David F. tons ton. secretary of agriculture, at "Washington, and, ' in view of the appeal ap-peal now beinsr made for federal intervention in-tervention to liandle thefood crisis, it is expected that the attitude of the secretary of agriculture in raising the co-it of feeding beef and mutton on the hoof on government land may be brought into question. The positon of the secretary ot agriculture, as expressed ex-pressed in his reply to Secretary Tom-Jinson. Tom-Jinson. is as follows: The purposes of the national forests for-ests are to improve and protect the forests for the purpose "of securing se-curing favorable conditions of stream flow and to furnish a con-ti con-ti nuous supply of timber for use of the people. The conserxation r. of the national forest resources 7 should always be given first con- federation and their use regulated in the way which will be tor the best interests of the people. The timber, grazing, water power pow-er and other resources which aro used for commercial purposes should be charged for at a rate which rep-I rep-I resents their fair value. If a charge onlv sufficient to cover the cost of administration were made all the profit from the commercial use of the national forests would go to a comparatively few individuals, indi-viduals, instea'd of to all the people, peo-ple, to whom they belong and who are entitled to share in their benefits. bene-fits. Based on Forage Value. This principle applies to the F resent situation, and the charge or grazing should be based upon the real value of the forage upon the national forest ranges, as determined de-termined by a careful survey of all the facts, and not by competitive competi-tive bids, as required in timber sales. Whether or not the fees charged at present represent a fair value of the forage is the question to be decided. The facts before me clearly clear-ly indicate that the present charge does not represent the full value of grazing privileges on the national na-tional forests. This is conceded by many stockmen. There is, however, how-ever, a difference of opinion as to the real value. The stockmen representing rep-resenting some localities contend that the present charge represents the full value of the range, while the stockmen of other localities concede that the grazing is worth more than is now being charged, but contend that the proposed increase in-crease of 100 per cent would be in. I excess of its real value. My attention has been called to many factors which have a bearing bear-ing on the matter. Among these are the small average ownership of stock in some localities, and the possible hardship which the proposed pro-posed increase would cause new i settlers and small owners, the own- I ersbip of watering places and oth- 1 cr improvements by stockmen, the j losses from predatory animals and poisonous plants, and the uncertainties uncer-tainties which attend the issuance of only annual permits or permits subject to annual reduction. May Be Variation. This indicates the possibility of a variation in the real value of grazing on different forests or in different general localities, and also that in a few instances the proposed pro-posed increase might not be justified; justi-fied; I appreciate that there is a ' possibility of considerable variation varia-tion in the value of grazing on the various forests. There does not seems to be any doubt, however, that the grazing everywhere is worth more than the present rates. In view of these facts, I have concluded to modify the plan. Instead In-stead of an increase of 33 1-3 per cent for the first year, an increase of 25 per cent will be made on 11 forests at jthis time to apply on permits issued for grazing periods tteginning on or before March 1 , 1917. Further increases will be deferred until a special study of the existing conditions upon "each of the national forests has been made. Upon the basis of the facts thus obtained, after having considered consid-ered all the advantages and disadvantages disad-vantages of the locality, additional increases will be made when the real value of the forage upon any forest is found to be more than the amount charged, but no such additional increase will be made before March. 1, 1918. For the fiscal year '-nding duly 1, 1916, Utah received for road and school purposes from revenues of the national forests in its borders $18,000. This represents 35 per cent of the collections. collec-tions. Tt is expected that $30,000 wil! be realized during the fiscal year to end July 1 of thia year. ' |