The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1875-07-01
For the EAGLE.
The Herd Law and the Cattle Trade.

grain go to waste, because the crop is
..Many farmers" are going
into such fits of ecstasy over their big
wheat crop. that hopper or bug ca
lamity seems almost necessary to bring
them to their senses. AT least we
might judge so from their notice call
ing meeting to form Farmers
Grain Exchange" right in the rush of
At this writing (Satur-
day 19th,) there is at least 100 acres of
good wheat standing in this immedi-
ate neighborhood, the bulk of which
would have been better if harvested
to-day, than if cut later, and of course
we will not undertake to grain ex-
change" at this time.
Mr.. Editor, we like Kansas; its
beautiful streams, its healthy climate,
its clever people, and its present wheat
crop, are as good as the best. But its
laws, its Lawmakers and law-hardlers
have, in many instances, merited the
unmitigated scorn and contempt of
every honest and industrious settler.
The moment we seek to use any law
that seems gotten up with 4 view OF
encouraging industry, it is pronounced
unconstitutional, or wanting in some
respect. What curious compact our
State constitution must be. Last fall
the needy counties sought to make
available the "Act for Relief Bonds
After the expense of holding elections
they were told that there was no legal
act of that kind. And The herd law
is in the same fix. 1t is but snare to
draw honest farmers into trouble,
when they are driven to ask its pro-
tection-the lawyers friend, the peo-
pies enemy. For truths sake, let us
quit telling the people through the col
umns of the EAGLE, that we have a
law here that takes the place of fences.
We don't want lies to keep people
away, and should not use them to
bring them out here. Our County At
torney considers it law to all intents
and purposes, but don't know whether
the court would recognize it as such.
Judge Campbell don't know whether
it is law or not, but will cheerfully
give his opinion of it when q case in
it is brought into court. Thus,
this costly experiment of testing and
establishing law, which three-fourths
of the people are anxious to have, is
left to some poor settler who has al
ready paid his share toward this work
in taxes. Why can't the law be brought
before the court and tested at the ex-
pense of the county. The hungry
lawyers OF Wichita are whispering in
the ears of cattle men that the law is
worthless, and thus encouraging reck-
leSsness on their part, and most farm
ers in this county are aware that they
had just about as well draw stakes and
leave the country at once, as ask pro-
lection at its hands. Sometime since
q neighbor was telling about his ex-
tensive wheat and corn patches. How
about your hedges, | asked. Haven't
any, said he, ''planted two years ago,
but didn't understand the business,
and they done no good" ''Haye MT
you learnt yet, then 2" eyes; but it
is no use planting now, we've 10 herd
law" ''No herd ?" 'No; not bit Of
it," said he. Judge Campbell told q
lawyer in town the other day, that the
people couldn't make such a darned
law.
know only of about three miles of
hedge set out this spring. kechi
ought to have set out fifty miles. And
thus it is, while hundreds of farmers
are Juggling manfully at the car of pro-
gross, it moves only inch by inch, be-
cause Of this legislative and court
house soap-grease slung upon the
track.
And now Messrs. Steele and the cat
tie committee, with their buggy-mount-
ed-guide, are meteing out law protec-
ton and justice to the people on the
cattle trail. And this is how they do
it. One man is allowed $50 for fright
of way" across The forty acres. An
other man, who had butchcred in ten
acres of corn on same land, (no doubt
to market it, is paid $50
damages. A twenty acres right adj
joining, and which they need to cross
to get to the yards, belong to a widow
woman. On this they offer to pay the
taxcr for fright of way" Knowing
how her neighbors Jared, no wonder
the lady didn't accept the offer. But
it made no difference to the trail COM
mittee; they use it the same as if they
had purchased the right. Not only
this, but six large herds have been
driven upon the main body of her farm
adjoining the trail-one herd of two
or three hundred crossing her young
hedges. For the latter herd, the driver
saying he had no guide,
and did not know where they were
going, and would pay damages. The
lady told them this being the case, two
dollars would satisfy for damages.
After q short time they sent her one
dollar For a similar injury j. w.
Burns, last year, was paid $40. 1won-
der if Mr.. Steele and committee don't
have some land close to town that they
want to rent for the taxes? l want to
rent q quarter section that way, and
two of my neighbors viii each take a
quarter.
The Texas trade is of Importance to
all Of US, in that it brings money, and
money is indispensable to the rapid
opening up Of new country, and
when damages from cattle occur, as
they must sometimes, no farmer, who
deserves home in as good country
as this, will try to claim five or ten
times the actual damage. But when
they offer to take actual damages, or
less, surely it is contemptuously little
to cut down the sum one half.
Mr.. Editor, if some frantic herd of
bovine was to twist off the forest trees
which arc soon to add to the beauty
and pleasantness of your suburban
or destroy the trees of Judge
no doubt you would find
law for damages, but there is no such
protection fer he common settler OF