The new era., February 14, 1907, Image 1

About The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??

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Puah
Produces
Prosperity
VOLUME I.
THE RESERVE
DIFFICULTIES
&ules Arbitrarily En
forced and Misin
terpreted.
Spirit of Department One of
Fairness but Unfortunate
In Selection of Men.
Next in importance to the disposition
of the public grazing land is the system
atizing and equal division of the grazing
land on the forest reserves, and it is safe
to predict that upon the final success or
failure of the system now being perfect
ed with regard to the forest land, will
depend, to a certain extent, the disposi
tion of the public grazing land.
In the making of rules and regulations
governing forest reserves in this country
the department of forestry are up again
st a problem, the solution of which they
are professedly ignorant, and in their
efforts to arrive at a correct solution
have tried to make the rules conform as
nearly as is compatible with good gov
ernment, to the sentiment of each sec
tion of the country.
In their efforts to justly handle the
forest reserve business, and work as lit
tle hardship as possible in comparison
with the benefits derived by the gener
al public, the department has, in all in
stances shown a disposition to be fair,
considerable latitude has been al
lied the rangers and men in charge of
local territory in enforcing the rules.
This bee pUced considerable responsi
bility on local officers and it is in this
connection that in some instance indi
viduals have been unfairly and unjust
y dealt with.
This paper is not in the habit of criti
cising but in the case of the Government
▼s. Andrew Norrell there seems to exist
much misunderstanding, as well as a
tendency to misconstrue many of the
facts in the case.
The happenings subsequent to the
placing of Forest Ranger Hogan in
charge of the Park Reserve, comprising
the range on the western side of the
Park, extending over into Routt county
and the Middle Park country, would
leave room to doubt Mr. Hogan’s sinceri
ty in his protestations of fairness, at
least in the case of Mr. Norrell.
The trouble seemed to have its start
last spring, when Mr. Norrell with others,
was notified to take out before the 31st
of March, grazing permits on the Purk
Reserve for the coming summer. This,
owing to neglect, and absence from the
Park. Mr. Norrell failed to do. Although
he did take out a permit for seventy-five
head of stock on the Medicine Bow re
serve. And right here is where the first
hitch was promulgated. Mr. Norrell,
several other North Park men, has
acres of land leased in the south
ern end of the Park, the leased land
practically adjoining both the Park and
Medicine Bow reserves.
The stock owned by Mr. Norrell, and
the others, who aie interested in the
leased Lind, were turned upon this land
in the spring and were allowed the free
run of both the leased land and that sec
tion of the Medicine Bow reserve adja
cent to the land, although Mr. Norrell
was the only one of the partnership who
lmd a permit to run cattle on that re
serve.
Along in the latter part of June. Mr.
Hogan again requested Mr. Norrell to
take out a grazing i>ermit. Mr. Norrell
appeared before Mr. Hogan at Kremm
liug and explained the situation as ful
ly as possible, and expressed his willing
ness to take out a permit for 73 head of
cattle, although he thought this was in
excess of the actual pro rate of his cat
tle on the Park reserve in comparison
with others. Mr. Hogan refused a per
mit for 75 head stating that Mr. Norrell
must take out a permit for 175 head, or
none at all, also that although unper
uiited stock had ranged with Norrell's
stock on the Bow reserve this would
have no bearing ou the Park reserve.
Now it would seem to fair minded
people tkat Mr. Hogan exceeded his
authority in ordering Mr. Norrell to
take out a permit for 175 head of cattle,
or Done at all, whan a permit for but 75
was asked. Even though Mr. Ho
gan considered a permit for 75 liead in
sufficient, it was nevertheless his duty to
THE NEW ERA
In God We Trust; AH OtHers Cash, or Good Security.
issue a permit for that number, provid
ing there was room for that many left,
and then if the number of cattle on the
reserve belonging to Mr. Norrell, in pro-
I>ortion to other stockmen having per
mits for the same number, was in excess
of the number allowed he could have
exercised his authority and either made
Mr. Norrell take out an additional per
mit, or remove the excess cattle and jwiy
whatever penalty was required.
However, Mr. Norrell refused to lake
out the permit for 175 head, and was or
dered by Hogan to remove his cattle
from the reserve, which was done, but,
as the cattle were in the habit of pastilr
ing on the reserve, during that season
of the year, it would have required a
couple of herders to keep them from
strayiug hack into the mountains.
As Mr. Norrell had neither the incli
nation nor the men to spare to look af
; ter the cattle, a part of them quite nat
urally drifted back onto the reserve.
Mr. Hogan again showed his hostility
by attempting to get several cattlemen
to assist him in driving Mr. Norrell's
cattle over into Routt county this the
men refused to do.
Mr. Hogan then swore out a com
plaint against Mr. Norrell charging him
with the trespass of 42 head of cattle on
the Park reserve. At this time he also
refused to allow Mr. Norrell to haul
some three thouand poles, which Nor
rell had had cut and piled several years
before the reserve was established, but a
part of which were on what is now the
reserve. Hogan then turned around
and gave another man a permit to haul
the poles away, which was done, and
Norrell is out his poles, although there
' was no question as to him being the leg
al owner.
Following Mr. Norrell’s arrest for tres
pass the preliminary hearing was held
before Court Commissioner W. O. Mos
man at Walden, Asst. U. S. Dist. Attor
ney Nable, appearing for the Govern
ment. Before the hearing was called,
Mr. Norrell and his attorney,A. H. Law.
held a conference with Mr. Hogan and
Mr. Nable. At this conference it was
shown to the satisfaction of the district
attorney that it was not Mr. Norrell’s
intention or wish to fight the govern
ment, that all he asked was fair treat
ment, and rather than cause futher liti
gation he would take out and pay for
the permit for 175 liead, as llogan had
formerly demanded. This was conceded
and at the hearing that followed Mr.
Norrell was bound over to the district
court, but it was tacitly understood that
the matter would be dropped.
Mr. Norrell was issued his permit for
175 head and paid the fee, a matter of
$29. Since that time Mr. Norrell has
been hauled from pillar to post by Uncle
Sam, having been compelled to make
two trips to Denver, pay the fee of $29
for the grazing permit, again, this being
demanded-by Hogan as a penalty, and
the case is still hanging fire.
Another feature of Hogan's feeling for
Mr. Norrell cropped out in his cancelling
u permit for 24 cords of fire wood for
Norrell's ranch, and hut for the fact
that coal is plentiful in the Park this
would have worked considerable hard
ship to Mr. Norrell.
While Mr. Norrell has undoubtedly
mude some mistakes, the attitude as
sumed by Hogan has apparently been
one of hostility all the way through,
and has, even from a radical standpoint,
been unfair.
There seems to have been a disposi
tion on the part of several of the cattle
men in the Park to create a feeling of
hostility toward Mr. Norrell not alone
with Mr. Hogan but the district attorney
as well. However, now that the Colora
do Stock & Horse Growers' Association
has taken the matter up, Mr. Norrell
will undoubtedly get justice, and Mr.
Hogan reminded of the fact that he is
merely a servant of the people rather
than a dictator.
Was a Success.
The “Spinster's Convention” given in
the M. E. church last Friday evening by
the Ladies’ Aid, was quite a hit, and as
many of the people in the surrounding
sections of the Park were unable to get
in last week the Ladies have decided to
give the play in Cowdrey tomorrow
evening.
Arrangements have been made for the
school house at that place and a good
house is expected. The receipts from
the play here were about S2B.
The Masquerade the 22ml of February
given by the Women of Woodcraft, will
be the dauce of the season. Music by
the Hendrickson orchestra. Don’t fail
to attend.
Sunday was one of the most delight
ful days imaginable, and as the sleigh
ing was perfect, everythind that would
slide wus in demand.
WALDEN, COLORADO, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14. 1907.
TO PROTECT
HOMESTEADER
And Small Stockmen,
Says President
Roosevelt.
His Attitude Clearly Expres
ed in a Letter to Senator
Warren.
While much talking has peen done,
very little in the way of getting at an
amicable understandg has been accom
lished at the meetings of the western
stockmen, who are iu Washington to
assist in the framing of a measure to
control the public grazing lands.
The Burkett amendment to the Agri
cultural appropriation bill, authorizing
the Secretary of Agriculture to district
the unreserved lands and charge an '
collect reasonable fees for grazing, is
under discussion, the cattlemen favoring
the measure, and the sheepmen opposing
t. Following is a letter written by
President Roosevelt to Senator Warren,
stating his views in decided terms:
“In accordance with our recent con
versation I am very glad to send you
this short statement of my position re
garding government control of the
range. lam fully iu accord with your
views that the local control of the range
should be in the hands of Western men,
familiar with stock raising, and I believe
in full local participation in the manage
ment of Hie rsnge. Of course you must
not divide the responsibility to appoint
where you can hold no one responsible,
but co operation between the stockmen
and government officers is absolutely
essential.
“The grazing fees should be small, es- j
pecially so at first. 1 am not anxious
that the government get a new revenue
from grazing on the public range, hut
only enough to puy for administration
and improvement and any surplus might
well go to the states and-territories in
which the fees are collected.
“As soon as a bill for range control is
passed, it goes without saying that such
control should not be taken hurriedly,
but gradually, as grazing districts can
he organized. There is one prime essen
tial in this policy of range control—the
homesteader must be protected in his
rights to create a home for his family,
and he must have whatever range rights
are necessary for that purpose.
“It is unlawful at present to fence the
public domain. All fences unlawfully
maintained will have to bo taken down.
Unless congress hikes action to legalize
reasonable and necessary fencing thru
government control of the rauge. there
will be a very serious loss to stockmen
throughout the west, whose business in
many cases cannot be conducted with
out fencing, and this loss will often fall
hardest on the small man.
“I cannot consent to a clause continu
ing fora year, or any length oi time, the
present illegal fencing.
“The utmost I will consent to, so far
as my power extends iu the matter of
legislation, is to continue such fences ns
in my judgement it is right and proper
for me to continue. My first core is for
the homesteader and the small stock
man. The opposition we have to our ;
proposal now comes primarily from the |
big men who graze wandering flocks of j
sheep, and who do not promote the real
settlement of the country.
“These men are the men whose inter
ests are diametrically hostile to those of
the homemakers, who wish to eat out
and destroy the country where he de
sires permanence; to live and who when
they have thus ruined the laud of the
homesteader and small stockman, move
elsewhere to rcqieut the process of devas
tation. Many of the sheepmen who are
jierinauoiit dwellers sympathize with
our movement. Others unfortunately
sympathize with their nomadic brothers
the ultimate result of whose actions is to
destroy the country.
“It must bo distinctly understood that
the opposition to the promised measure
for government control is op|H>sition
aimed at the interest of the homemaker,
the homesteader, of the small stockman,
of the large stockman who desires that
the country shall become better and not
worse, and that it is to the interest <>f ;
those who think t hat iu continuing the 1
■ present system, they will be able to
! monopolize an improper portion of the
public domain, and who are quite indif
ferent 4* to whether in the long run they
destroy? it.”
TO BUILD LINE
Illinois Ranchmen to String
! a Metallic Circuit Between
Walden and Rand.
i
!
Philip Hoover, manager of the Wald
en enchange, reports that he attended a
meeting wf the Illinois river ranchmen,
at the home of Lara Larson Tuesday
night at which time the Illinois Tele
phone association was formed, with Win.
Denelson, president, and O S. Case us
secretary and treasurer.
The purpose of the association is to
build and maintain a telephone line from
Walden to a point near Welch’s store at
Rand. 11. C. Boston has the contract
( to furnish the poles, dig the holes, frame
and set the poles, and has started for the
| timber to see about the material. lie
> expects to have the poles on the ground
by the time snow leaves
It is also probable the Rand jwople
will decide to have a switching station
. established in that neighborhood which
will relieve any burden on the main ex
, change that might otherwise he eugen
. dered.
The Spicer Exchange will soon be in
’ operation, with Murphy Bros, in charge
Those who have already subscribed, but
have not yet been connected up are, A.
J. Monroe, Dennis Brennan, Hanson cV
Rich, Mrs. M. E. Ridings, and J. T.
Bonis. *
CATTLEMEN
IN REVOLT
Members of the Grand
River Ass’n Op
pose Fee
Will Have Authority of Gov
ernment in Matter Test
ed by Courts.
I
Glen wood Springs, Colo., Feb. 11. —A
large and enthusiastic meeting of the
Grand River Cattle (.’rowers Association
was held in Rifle today, at which a reso
lution was passed declaring that until
the United States shall fence the forest
reserves, or until the federal courts ren
der a decision that there is no recourse
but to pay the fees, the stockmen pres
ent would decline to take out grazing
permits, or pay any fees for said stock
on said reserves.
The convention also asked the Colora
do Cattle and Horae Growers association
to take steps to have their rights pro
tected in regard to grazing on the re j
serves. The stockmen claim that after
a years trial they fail to find where they
have received any benefit from the mon
oy they have paid the government in
grazing fees.
At the close id the meeting an agree
1 ment was pretty generally signed by the
, members, pledging themselves to refuse .
| to take out grazing permits and also to I
j |Miy their full share of any exj»ense for
defending any members who might be
arrested for violating the government '
regulations. Many of the stockmen had
loft and fierhaps not over half of those
: who participated in the meeting signed
' the agreement
The stockmen are anxious to force the
matter to a test, as there is considerable j
doubt as to the right of the department
to enforce the collection of the grazing
tax without direct authority from con
gress. While the stockmen present re
ferred to the grazing tax as a hardship,
they say they will have to pay the tax if
the policy of Roosevelt and Pinchot is j
upheld by congressional action.
A resolution was adopted opposing the ;
passage of the Burkett bill, or any other
measure which would change the status
of the public domain, and place it on
the same basis as the forest reserve.
In addition to the members of the
Grand River association, there were
present many members of the Roaring
! Fork and Eagle River Cattle Growers
I association.
! Beeflßeefi f
t
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In buying our meat we se- »f»
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When you buy your steaks, J
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pork you are always good na- 4,
.g, tured. You should try it. .g.
? ARMOUR S HAM, ?
J BASON and LARD J
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FORT COLLINS, COLO.
F. C. Abery, Prest. . W. C. L*Muster, Cashier. I
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NUMBER SO