the infected district at the headwaters of the drinking supply. If this honorable committee will but control the 681,889 acres of open range in Sierra County until there is a good grass or weed covering upon it there will be no sand flow to harass the settlers on down the valley. These same facts apply to every irrigation project in the Southwest, clear on down to the little stockman with a surface tank for stock and domestic water. Mr. Bratton, these are only some of the things which need correcting; only the very highest of the high spots. It would take days to attempt to cover it by letter. If the committee comes to New Mexico I would be glad to appear before them if I could be of service to them or more especially to this section of the country. My solution of the troubles may be summed up in the one word-control. Control this range, cover it over with what ever will grow, hold the moisture, stop the runoff. Recently I had a short article printed in the Highway magazine of Chicago, written from the viewpoint of road construction. The article was reprinted in the local paper and the plan received many words of commendation from local business men. I want to submit it as a part of this letter. Therein I pointed out what may be done under the present management of the United States Forest Service. I favor the Forest Service because it eliminates the element of uncertainty. I know what the Forest Service will do because I lived under it for many years. I am opposed to State control because I know also what the State will do. I find among the cowmen that the chief objection to control of the public domain is that element of uncertainty. The little fellow fears that it will be a plan for the benefit of the big cowman and the big cowman fears that he will be gradually pinched out in the interests of the little fellow. It is a subject on which they refuse to speak except to their closest friends, but it is the stumbling block on which the cowmen and other stockmen fail to agree. Yours very truly, TOM CHARLES, Alamogordo, N. Mex. Mr. CAMERON. This hearing will now be adjourned. (Thereupon, at 5 o'clock p. m., Saturday, October 10, 1925, the hearing of the subcommittee of the Committee on Public Lands and Surveys of the United States Senate was adjourned at Albuquerque, N. Mex.) X HEARINGS BEFORE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC LANDS AND SURVEYS Congress. UNITED STATES SENATE Λ SIXTY-NINTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION PURSUANT TO S. Res. 347 TO INVESTIGATE ALL MATTERS RELATING TO NATIONAL CONTENTS CALIFORNIA HEARINGS, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., SEPTEMBER 22, 1925 Page The overgrazed and unregulated public domain__. Long-time leases on an area basis at the cost of administration__-- Sherwood Green, representing the Madera County Sheepmen's and Cattlemen's Associations and the Rod Club of the Chamber of Com- merce, Madera, Calif., opposing the proposed extension of the national Opposed to the extension of the national parks in Californa_. Statement of facts relating to the Kings River delta regarding irri- SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., SEPTEMBER 23, 1925 Charles L. Gilmore, attorney and assistant executive officer, California State Fish and Game Commission, San Francisco, Calif. Federal control and the migratory-bird treaty act--- Opposed to the extension of the national parks in California___ Disposition of grazing fees--- S. R. Black, secretary-manager, California Protective Association, San Francisco, Calif., regarding insect infestations in the national for- H. E. Bigelow, cattle and sheep man, O'Neill, Calif...-- Cost of running 2,000 sheep in the forest reserve and in the valley. Opposed to the extension of the national parks in California___ Long-time leases of forest reserve grazing lands on an area basis_ Hon. Fred H. Bixby, president American National Livestock Associ- Regulation of the public domain, long-term leases on an area basis H. M. Rice, secretary California Cattle Raisers' Association, San Fran- cisco, Calif., indorsing the platform adopted at the joint conferences of cattle and sheep men at Salt Lake City, Utah, August 24 and 25, 1925- W. P. Wing, secretary California Wool Growers' Association, San Fran- cisco, Calif., indorsing the platform adopted at the joint conference of cattle and sheep men at Salt Lake City, Utah, August 24 and 25, 1925 3756 J. H. Favorite, division inspector, General Land Office, Department of the Interior, San Francisco, Calif., regarding the homestead entry of Enos D. Butts, homestead entryman, Lost Hills, Calif., regarding his |