The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1872-03-07
fuE TEXAS CATTLE QUESTION.


Much complaint has reached us, the
past fall and winter, relative to the man
ner in. which the Texas cattle were al
lowed to roam over our prairies, destroy
ing the property Of the farmers and
bringing disease to domestic stock
These complaints, in view of the nea'
approach of the season in which Texas
cattle will again begin TO make their ap
pearancc into Western Kansas, and very
likely into Saline county, deserve more
than passing thought.
The question assumes itself in some
thing of this shape: Do our bu siness
men think it to their interest that the
experience of the past year, or number
of years, shall be repeated, and can they
as we'll as the county, afford it! 1t is q
very nice thing for como kinds of bust
ness to have the cattle men como hsre
They throw their spare change into one
branch and another, and perhaps add an
impetus to money matters. But there is
something back of all this, which affects
our prosperity for all future and which
every man who intends to live perma.
nently in Salina should look well 10. Ii
is that of encouraging our farmers in
their work and seeking to remove every
thing that retards them in their opera
tons. To allow infectious cattle to roam
at will about our country, damaging our
home stock and injuring the farmers, is
not encouragement.
We do not cry down the bringing of
Texas cattle into our country, but we do
advise the placing Of restrictions upon
the way in which they are kept after they
arc brought here. We have competent
laws and if they are strictly enforced
there is no necessity for complaint. But
if the laws are to be disregarded in the
f,turc as they have been in the past, it is
best that the cattle shall be kept out al
topcthcr. We are the friends OF the
armer, because we know that 1t Is to
him that our towns and cities must look
or their sustenancc. And it is justice
% him that he shall be protected. There
arc farmers in Saline county who have
ost hundreds of dollars 10 their hay,
.attlc, fences, &C., from Texas cattle, and
hey have not been able to obtain one
arthing in payment. Our farmers are
law-abiding and have been We
v patient under their troubles, with on
" murmur here and there, but they de-
erve relief. If nothing is done for them,
hey should protect themselves by the
of farmers associations,
Who, with their means, will bring the
avs into full force. The protection Of
he farmers interests is of vital impor-
ance. 1t has been thoroughly demon
,trated that IN the season Of the year
when the grasses are in all of their green
ness Texas cattle leave death In their
racks for domestic cattle, and for this
reason it argues that there should be
certain restrictions and bounds, and also
for the reason that Texas steer is ma
.urally an unruly creature. "Selfprcs-
,rvation is one of the first laws OF ma
,.on ,nd II behooves every citizen of
Saline county 20 look well to all that
which bespeaks our future prosperity.
In Justice to the farmer and in view OF
the great demands of our country, we
hope this question will be speedily SOW
ed to the best interests of all our people.
We may speak farther upon this sub
iect in the next few weeks.