Pilot Rock Cascade Siskiyou Monument

Cascade Siskiyou National Monument, Southern Oregon, Jackson County US

Pilot Rock Grazing District
By Mark Lawrence Retired BLM Range Manager

The Pilot Rock Grazing District was organized in the summer and fall of 1934 by petition to the Jackson County Court. After receipt of the petition, an election was held which approved it by a vote of 35 to 1. Following the election, the Jackson County Court declared it legally formed.

Its boundaries were as follows: From the junction of the Dead Indian Road and the Pacific Highway in the Northwest Quarter of Section 13, Township 39 South, Range 1 East, the true point of beginning, the boundary followed the south side of the Dead Indian Road northeasterly to the range line between Township 38 South, Range 2 East, and Township 38 South, Range 3 East; thence south along this range line to the north west corner of Section 6, Township 40 South, Range 3 East; thence seven miles east to the northeast corner of Section 6, Township 40 South, Range 4 East; thence two miles south to the southeast corner of Section 7, Township 40 South, Range 4 East; thence five miles east to the southeast corner of Section 12, Township 40 South, Range 4 East, on the Jackson County Klamath County line; thence south along this line to the Oregon California line; thence west along this line to the Pacific Highway ; thence along the Pacific Highway northwesterly to the point of beginning. *Now Old Pacific Highway.

From the years 1934 to 1941, the district functioned under the Jackson County Court with a three-man advisory board of stockmen in the district. They set seasons of use, the numbers of Oregon and California cattle to be grazed in the area and grazing fees. Season of use was from April 1 to December 31.

In 1941, Mr. Otto Krueger of the O&C Land Administration, appeared at a meeting and suggested that he work with the district and the county court.

In 1944, the records note that the O&C land will cost the district $0.37 per head. Apparently, all use of the O&C lands prior to this had been free.

In 1946, the building of a drift fence along the state line was discussed by the court and the advisory board.

On May 2, 1946, E. K. Peterson attended a meeting with the advisory board and the Jackson County Court. He answered all questions in regard to a long-term grazing lease with the court.

The records of 1947 indicate that applications for 1,703 cattle and 16 horses were approved for the use period April 1 to December 1.

The records of 1952 show that Mr. Jim Linne of the Bureau of Land Management attended the meetings.

In 1953, an agreement was made on the division of lands. It appears that at this time leases on a portion of it to Clyde-Laird, George Wright, Elmer Hopkins and Keene Creek Cattle Association were approved.

Records of 1953 show that an additional assessment of $1.25 per head-was made for the purpose of building 5 miles of the Klamath Control Fence. The Camp Creek Cattle Association was to build the same amount.

The lease with the Bureau of Land Management was for 19,968 acres at $0.06 per acre, or $1,198.08.

H. H. Fox said his ranch should have a first-class permit and he should be allowed sixty head instead of twenty head, as he had improved his place. He was willing at the meeting to let this ride until the next year. He was promised more numbers if he improved the place and built up his herd of cattle.

The 1954 records show that Dennis Hess, Mark E. Lawrence and E. K. Peterson attended the meetings.

Due to controversy over the range, the 8ureau of Land Management had started working out leases for the Greensprings Cattle Corporation and the Camp Creek Cattle Association.

After considerable discussion at a big meeting involving all users, an application from the Pilot Rock Grazing District was rejected by E. K. Peterson in favor of applications made by the Greensprings Cattle Corporation and the Camp Creek Cattle Association.

H. H. Fox was present and objected. He was told that he could lease separately, join the Greensprings Cattle Corporation, or file an appeal.

Fox then attempted to get the county court to appeal from the decision, but Judge Coleman rejected that in no uncertain terms. He stated that there were plenty of courts between there and the Supreme Court, and the gates were wide open to Mr. Fox.

The Commissioners suggested that the Pilot Rock Grazing District dissolve and a date be set for the vote. According to Elmer Hopkins, who was head of the advisory board, this was never done. Once the district had no land to lease, it was automatically dissolved after twenty years of operation.

Comments

According to Elmer Hopkins, who was Chairman of the Pilot Rock Grazing District Advisory Board, Judge Coleman had said, "Oregon grass was for Oregon cattle." this had started the hot controversy over the range as the ranchers along the Klamath River had a long, historic use of the range to the top of the Siskiyous. Without a fence along the state line, there was no way to prevent this use.

The thinking in the Bureau of Land Management in 1954 was that the best way to solve the controversy was for the Bureau of Land Management to take the area back from the district and lease to the individuals or groups, which was done.

H. H. Fox, who was left with the unkept promises of the district, failed to reach an agreement with the Greensprings Cattle Corporation over the sixty head of cattle he felt he was entitled to run. Fox filed for an individual lease and eventually went to an appeal, which resulted in a lease of lands to him contiguous to his place.

The 5 1/2 miles of wing fences were built by the Greensprings Cattle Corporation and the Camp Creek Cattle Association. All these did was funnel the mountain-going cows through the middle, and it was necessary to fence the entire Siskiyou Summit to control the cattle.

In order to complete the range management control of the area, it was necessary to fence the state line, which was done in several stages.

Mark Lawrence, Retired BLM Range Manager

This information was presented to Richard Taylor 11/23/92 and is part of Mark Lawrences book intitled: " ".

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