Abstract

The fact that so much of the Henry Mountains area is public land demonstrates that most of the land (like most of the rest of Utah) has not been suitable for private ownership, for it was open for private entry for many years. Increased population, as has occurred throughout the West, has meant increased population pressure on the land, and this has led to increased restrictions on its use. Over-use of arid land is followed by severe erosion and reduction of forage, and the adoption of restructions led to the sagebrush revolt that erroneously blames eastern Congressmen for the changes. Four case histories of legislative action—Powell’s proposals in 1879, creation of forest reserves in 1891, report of the Land Law Review Commission in 1970, and the Federal Land Policy. Act of 1976—show that blaming easterns will not stand elementary analysis. And cuts in the Federal spending cannot be expected as long as Congressmen continue their pork barrel projects.