We invite you to come to New Mexico. I hope this subcommittee does come to New Mexico, especially to the northern part of the State. Mr. Mercure has aptly described that part of New Mexico. We want to help these people beyond the educational program that Mr. Mercure has talked about. I know we all agree that if there is one thing we need, it is the opportunity for all our children to get an education, but if we want to help these people economically, in my opinion, at least, I think one of the best things we can do it to see that these people have roads. As Mr. Mercure has said, those are isolated areas. And believe me, in the wintertime when the snows come, those people cannot get their children to school, they cannot even get out of the area themselves.

Right now we have a magnificient bridge in the northern part of New Mexico. The State built the bridge at its own expense, with no Federal funds. There has been much written and said about this bridge that goes nowhere. The road is being built slowly. Much of it will be on State and Federal land. The Forest Service, despite lack of funds is making an effort to complete some sections of the road annually. Someday, we will have a road across the northern part of New Mexico, and I shall do all I can to hasten the day.

I have made many notes during Mr. Mercure's testimony, but the hour is getting late, and I already have indicated my desire to submit a statement later on.

I have campaigned many times throughout the places that Mr. Mercure has mentioned here this morning. These are wonderful people. And, as he has mentioned, they were there a long time before Johnny Walker was in New Mexico and they were there a long time before most of us even came to this country. They have a wonderful heritage. They have a lot of pride. And believe me, these people who live in these rural areas, given an opportunity, will work.

Mr. RESNICK. Thank you for your testimony. If you want to extend and revise your remarks, you may feel free to do so.

I might point out that we are not zeroing in on any one State or in on any one area of the country. We will have people coming in from Maine next week. This rural problem, as you see, strikes most people.

When you speak of the beauty of your country, you do not see the rural poverty, and the problems that the poor have. The reason for these hearings is to see what we can do about these problems. It may be to put New Mexico in the Appalachia front.

Thank you for coming.

Mr. WALKER. Thank you. It was a pleasure.

(The following letter and attachment were also received from Congressman Walker:)

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Washington, D.C., July 18, 1967.

Hon. JOSEPH Y. RESNICK,

Chairman, Subcommittee on Rural Development,

Committee on Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The attached article from the Santa Fe New Mexican is forwarded with the request that it be made a part of the record of hearings on this subject.

Your assistance is appreciated.

Best wishes.

Sincerely,

E. S. JOHNNY WALKER, Member of Congress.

MULTIPLE USE IS PRINCIPLE IN NATIONAL FORESTS

(EDITOR'S NOTE.-One of the points of contention in the recent activity and outbreak of violence in Northern New Mexico has been the matter of grazing permits on U.S. Forest Service land. In the following article, the uses and use procedures on forest land are detailed. Elliott Barker, the writer, is former State Game Warden and has been active many years in conservation work in New Mexico.)

(By Elliott S. Barker)

In view of certain charges and seemingly irresponsible accusations that have been made against the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests' administration, locally and in connection with the recent hearings in Washington, it seemed to the Santa Fe Wildlife and Conservation Association that an accurate analysis of the situation should be made.

WCA President James E. Snead assigned the job to me.

This report is the result of diligent research of the records and is intended to provide the public with the true picture of the situation on these two forests in regard to protection and management of the multiple resources, with special reference to livestock grazing. Is the big Texan being favored to the detriment of local stockmen?

There are four fundamentals involved:

1. The National Forests of all states are the property of the Federal Government; that is, they belong to all the people and do not belong to, nor can they be administered for, any special group or special interest.

2. The Forest Service is under a firm mandate from the Congress to administer the National Forests on a multiple-use basis in the best interests of the greatest number in the long run.

3. The administration, protection and management of the use of the National Forest resources on a sound, efficient basis must be by personnel trained and experienced in that field. It simply cannot be done by politicians nor for political expediency.

4. The principal resources of New Mexico National Forests that must be administered equitably under the multiple-use concept are:

A. Watersheds.-Undoubtedly water is the most valuable product of the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests. Here much of the watersheds yield near an acre foot of water for every acre of watershed. This pure mountain water is used for fish production, recreation, municipal, irrigation and industrial purposes. B. Timber.-The vast timber resources must be managed under a sustained yield basis in a manner not to despoil the watersheds. Thus they provide not only a perpetual supply of timber products but also permanent employment for local people in the logging and sawmill operations.

C. Grazing.-Livestock grazing is an important use which contributes greatly to the economy of local home units-land owners who have the necessary base property to take care of their livestock in winter. There is only so much grazing available. To increase arbitrarily the number of permitted or free use stock would not only damage the watershed, but would eventually reduce the carrying capacity of the range as well. Here again, the sustained yield policy must prevail. D. Wildlife, including fish.--Wildlife is a state property of great value. Hunters and fishermen contribute to the economy of the State to the extent of 55,000,000 dollars a year. It provides recreation for over 200,000 people annually. Fishing is one of the biggest tourist attractions.

E. Recreation.-The National Forests constitute New Mexico's greatest recreational assets. This involves many activities-sightseeing, camping, picnicking, picture taking, hiking, horseback riding, pack-in trips, trail riding, skiing, hunting and fishing and many Scout activites.

Grazing on the Santa Fe National Forest is an important asset to help round out economic units of long occupied lands within and surrounding the National Forest. But there simply is not enough grazing to satisfy all the demands, and the use of the grazing resources must be coordinated with the several other multiple uses.

On the Santa Fe National Forest (including a small amount of Land Use Lands) 11,185 head of cattle and horses are grazed by 428 permittees. Of these, 387 are Spanish-Americans and 41 Anglo-Americans. The average number of stock per permittee is 26. All persons, to qualify for a grazing permit, must own commensurate base property near the Forest sufficient to take care of his livestock during the winter months.

LARGE AND SMALL

Here, as everywhere else, there are large operators and small operators. Of the 428 grazing permittees on the Santa Fe National Forest only 50 graze more than 50 head of cattle. Of these, 36 are Spanish-Americans and 14 are Anglos. The average number grazed by this group is 95.

There is only one sheep and goat permittee on this Forest. He is a SpanishAmerican who has a permit for 900 head.

On the Santa Fe National Forest there is only one grazing permittee who has an out of State address. That is C. D. Leon who gives his addresses as Abilene, Tex., and Rociada, N.M., where his base property is located.

Leon owns the old Juan Pendaries, later Jose Baca, ranch at Rociada, where he maintains a home. This property has been used as the base for a grazing permit (now 80 head, formerly larger) since the National Forest was created. At the recent hearings in Washington much ado was made over the issuance of commercial horse grazing permits to outfitters to take care of residents and non-residents alike on pack-in trips, Wilderness Trail Rides, etc. Four permits for a total of 125 horses are so issued for 147 horse days. A horse day is considered one horse for one month. That means 125 horses for one month and six days. The use is intermittent.

The fact is that no additional stock has been added and no one has been discriminated against. This very same number of horses has been grazed on the Forest for many years, just as they now are. The difference is that before 1961 no permit was required for horses so used. In 1961 the policy was changed to require a permit. But there are not additional horses.

MORE IMPORTANT

The grazing resources of the Carson National Forest are even more important than on the Santa Fe. Many years ago the grazing resources were very badly abused by excessive overgrazing. That cut down the carrying capacity of the range, and the Forest Service has had a long and difficult job in meeting its obligation to restore the range to good condition. By careful management that objective is being accomplished.

On the Carson National Forest there are 501 permittees who graze 9,587 cattle and horses. The average number per permittee is slightly over 19 head. Of the cattle and horse permittees 456 have Spanish-American names (a few Indians included), and 45 are Anglos.

There are 56 sheep and goat permittees who hold permits to graze 41,067 sheep and goats. The average permit is 733. Of the 56 sheep and goat permittees 48 are Spanish-Americans and eight are Anglos.

Coincidentally, on the Carson the same as on the Santa Fe, there are 50 permittees who hold permits for over 50 head of cattle. Of these, 23 are SpanishAmerican and 27 Anglo-American. The total number of cattle grazed under permits in this category is 4,169.

The situation on the Carson National Forest in regard to the number of grazing permittees not residing in New Mexico requires some clarification. Much of the Carson is adjacent to the Colorado state line and, being a National Forest, the state line must be disregarded insofar as the dependent zone is concerned. In other words, the residents of Colorado who own commensurate base property near the forest, which borders on the state line, qualify under the regulations of the secretary of agriculture for consideration for grazing permits just as New Mexico residents do within a comparable dependent zone.

There are 85 Colorado residents in the dependent zone who hold permits to graze stock on the Carson National Forest. Beside these non-resident permittees, there are two Colorado permittees living outside the dependent zone in Colorado and one in Utah who are away working while retaining their base property within the dependent zone.

That leaves three permittees with out of state addresses. One is Henry C. Leiker and Mary McCarthy, formerly of Taos and who retain their base property there. T. V. Gorman of Wichita Falls, Tex., has a permit for 48 head of cattle, and Kirby Cattle Co., Pasadena, Calif., has a permit for 155 head of cattle. Both these parties have base property in the dependent zone near the forest and have homes there where they spend the summer.

OUTDOOR RECREATION

"Man cannot live on bread alone." In this day of high-tension living and the stresses of modern civilization, especially in the smog-smothered cities throughout the country, outdoor recreation has become an actual necessity. Tourists are simply people seeking recreation in one form or another, but mostly outdoors. The tourist business in New Mexico is the most cherished industry. Our National Forests are the state's greatest attraction for outdoor recreation.

In the National Forests is where the bulk of our cool fishing streams and lakes are found, along with camp grounds and picnic sites. This is where the areas suitable for mountain climbing, hiking, horseback riding, Scout trips, pack-in trips, Wilderness Trail Rides, hunting and fishing trips are to be found and enjoyed. Three Wilderness Trail Rides in the Santa Fe Forest bring $15,000 in the state each year.

For human benefit and economic benefit to the state, the National Forest must be managed so as to provide the broadest base possible for recreational use. Last year there were 187,700 visits to the Santa Fe National Forest, and 422,900 visitor days. A visitor day is one person 12 hours.

On the Carson there were 363,100 visits and 1,165,600 visitor days.

To help care for these visitors the Santa Fe National Forest has developed 39 camp ground and picnic areas for public use: one for organizations, one for winter sports, and one for group use. Some summer homes are under permit.

The Carson has developed 59 camp and picnic site areas for public use and two for organization use, three winter sports areas and one lodge. A dozen summer homes are also under permit. The Carson spent $6,000 restoring the facilities at the Amphitheater near Ghost Ranch damaged last October.

WIDLIFE AND FISH

There were 216,000 hunters and fishermen who paid $1,475,000 for licenses to hunt and fish in New Mexico last year. And 50,000 of these licenses were purchased by non-residents. All these hunters and fishermen spent $55,000,000 in the state in connection with their sport last year.

These figures indicate the great economic value of wildlife and fish to the state. It is axiomatic that wildlife and fish must have a suitable environment and habitat if they are to survive and produce a reasonable annual harvest for sportsmen, and for esthetic values.

On private lands these resources are at the mercy of the land owner (often he is merciful), and hunting and fishing may be done only by his permission, which too often is not given. But the National Forests are yours and no one can deny you the privilege of hunting and fishing there in accordance with state laws.

PRIME HABITAT

The National Forests are naturally prime habitat and under the multiple use principle, wildlife has a right to enjoy a place to live and propagate. The Santa Fe and Carson National Forests provide the bulk of the state's mountain stream trout fishing and much high mountain lake fishing as well.

These two National Forests contain a great deal of excellent deer, turkey, grouse and bear prime habitat. They are also the home of the state's biggest and best elk herds, restoration of which could not have been accomplished without the cooperation of the Forest Service.

CONTRIBUTIONS IN LIEU OF TAXES

Federal law provides that 25 per cent of the gross receipts of each National Forest shall be paid to the counties in proportion to the net acreage of the forest in the county, with such money to be used in school and road financing. In addition, 10 per cent is paid to the counties for use on state roads within the forest. Last year the Santa Fe National Forest made these payments: Mora County $2,567.56; Rio Arriba County $17,483.76; Sandoval County $10.011.90; San Miguel County $10,714.61; Santa Fe County $6,225.25; a total of $47,003.08.

In like manner, and for the same purposes, the Carson National Forest made contribution to Taos County the sum of $12,396.37, Rio Arriba County $20,278.40, Mora County $3817.09, and Colfax County $178.09; a total of $33,233.95.

The Santa Fe National Forest operates on a budget of $2,237,715, the Carson on a budget of $1,592,798.

On the Santa Fe National Forest there are 110 permanent employees of which 30 are Spanish-American names, and 58 are Anglo-American. There are 117 seasonal employees of which 86 are Spanish-American names and 31 other. Of the Job Corps permanent employees there are 22 Spanish-American names and 26 other.

On the Carson National Forest there are 69 permanent employees of which 30 are Spanish-American names and 39 Anglo-American. There are 82 seasonal employees of which 64 are Spanish-American names and 18 other.

MANY RETURNS

The School System receives $110 per student child of each Forest Service enployee working on government property after completion of a full school year. Forest firefighters from the Santa Fe and Carson National Forest zone were paid $678,950 last year.

The value of the water produced by the National Forest watersheds is inestimable for fish production, recreational use and attraction, municipal, irrigation and industrial use.

Days have been spent collecting and compiling the foregoing data from the records of the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests. However, I have had personal contact with, and the privilege of observing the Forest Service's problems, policies and operations over a period of 60 years.

From the record and my personal first hand observations only one conclusion can be reached. That is that the Forest Service is doing a magnificent job of administering the Forests for multiple use purposes, equitably, and without fear or favor. It is inevitable that some toes will be stepped on.

Its unwavering objective has been, and still is to perpetuate the natural resources for the benefit of the greatest number in the long run. Who can quarrel with that?

Mr. MATHIAS. I would like to state that I was encouraged very much by hearing the director who has just spoken. I enjoyed his presentation very much. I think that this program is in very capable hands.

Mr. MERCURE. Thank you. If I may add one last comment.
Mr. RESNICK. You may do so.

Mr. MERCURE. Thank you, Mr. Mathias.

Mr. ZWACH. I would like to have the exact program that you are using on these people. I am a farmer representing a rural district with many of the aspects of this problem. I want to know what it is the State has done whether the State has fallen down and as well as the Department of Agriculture, whether the extension program has fallen down. What program exactly do you have-could we have that for the record-that you are using here in this area, trying to upbuild it?

Mr. MERCURE. We have had to devise many of our own materials. I will be very happy to furnish you with copies of what we have. More recently publishers have become more interested in adult education and have come up with some fairly good materials in adult education.

The Department of Agriculture, by the way, has some very good material in the homemaking areas, as well in the teaching of farming skills, the point being that if you were to check these people in Penasco you would find very, very few that have these materials.

Mr. ZWACH. In your employment of teachers, do you hire people with the type of training that county agents have, that extension people have is this the type of people you employ?