Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-01-16

u sue &c.
Now. in view OF the present condition o
o things, is it not high time for the cattle
Il fsen Of Gallatin roundup district to ge
together and form an organization for tlls
II protection OF their cattle against the sheer
and wool growers? The conflict. as said
Inns aleady commenced. The defyina
, nfovoe.tiou has been made by the shep
; herds. Several owners Of tIocl,s Of sheer
have endeavorcd to locate their herds in
4 TO persuade us that our cattle would be
come familiar with their sheep by degrees
But. after finding ont that our. cattle hated
the smell OF those little animals us bad as
>, their own cattle, they have tried to use
discretion enough to occupy outside loc,l-
tons 50 we would not have much ground
!. Of complaint And we do not propose to
grumble SO long Is the imposition is at all
suppnltablc. But Mr.. Edwards CHANGED
the prOvocatiOn at once By moving his
flock of sheep to Elk Creek. the very heart
Of the cattle range. Since the sheep took
tbVSStSSloI vi NlCCh, tIIC Cuttlc lIdNc
. almost deserted it,
: During the winters of ~ and rs, Elk
Creek range saved the lives of great
many cattle that certainly would have per-
ished had it not been for that very flvorl-
BILE locality. If the present winter shall
turn ont to be very severe. we are liable to
sustain heavy losses on this account. The
cattle that used to range on Elk Creek. IS
peeially during the winter storms, seem to
be already discouraged. and come down in
large bands to the neiglibOrhood Of llamil-
ton. bawling around the fences where there
is nothing for them TO eat. AS the winter
has not been eN essivcly severe yet. there
is no reason to suppose that any thing has
caused the cattle to act in this way except
that they have been crowded off their
proper ranges by herds of sheep.
This is not a matter that concerns one
man more than another. Weare all equally
interested. The land of Gallatn county
was formerly located for cattle ranges.
tmore especially that portion between the
Madison and Gall,.tin rivers.
| Besides being cattle growers, most OF us
are farmers, and our cattle ranges are gen
orally located in close proximity to our
respective farms, and we have got no pas
turage on these limited ranges to spare for
the sheep. We do not like to change our
business solely for the accommodation of
wool growers. nor do we believe in their
arguments. We believe cattle are the best
property-always were and always will be.
Our cattle have made us our homes. ena-
bled us to see TO the welfare of our families
and they have always paid a good revenue
to Galiatin county.
We are confident. too, that cattle are
destined to advance in price. while sheep
are bound. in the very nature Of lhings. to |
decline. We believe cattle never will be as
cheap In the future lis they have been in
the past. and that sheep will no: be as high |
in the near future us they are even now.
With our cattle we plough our land. mar
ket orr produce, keep our own tables sup
piled with butter and milk and furnish the
indispensable products OF the dairy for gen
eral consumption. We also teach orr chill |
dren TO manufacture the various and vaIlil- /
bic products of the dairy. while with sheep
about the only thing we could expect
would be to teach the children to shear
them.
We know that orr cattle have always
slmmered and wintered on the same
ranges. while the few fiocks Of sheep now
in Gillatin county cO,t hardly remain one
year on the same range. They have to be
moved away to new past,iring or starve:
which goes to confirm our last years pre-
hction. that sheep cannot remain very
long on the same range. They destroy
AMI kill the grasses too rapidly. especially
on virgin ranges. But. willie We do not
contest the anticipatons and bright hopes
Of the wool growers in their speculations.
for our part. we must say with the benc- s
fits OF cur observation and past experience.
sc don't bsiisve IN it. We believe cattle {
70 be the most pre- fitable property for this
and we do not propose to change i
Dur speciality. We are permanently loc;,- q
ted here. having spent our labOring power I
md our surplus means to improve orr 8
stock and real estate. and make this our G
nome. We cannot. even for the sake OF I
1eace. consent to move our cattle and give a
Up our location 10 the sheep. Our real es- c
ate, which is made most valuable to I,s BY il
occasion Of our cattle, cannot be moved,
md few eetdd realize much. if anything. ?
or their farms and homes. even if they b
hoHl1 consent to 60 and commence new d
ZONES elsewhere. Therefore, rs cattle and Il
heep cannot range or live together, we Il
re respectfully inviting the shepherds to S
unit up some location not yet SO thorough f;
y occupied by catrle. ri
Still. we believe in the voice of the major II
ty. We prefer to state our grievances and y
easons to the people. and expect to be i
llged by them. We do not intend to i'm
late our nciglibors Of Colorado by going n
t once to- work without fair warning, or q
o;ag anything unreasonable or in too "
reat haste-conduct which we have always s;
la.ned. h,
IF we can be fairly convinced by the COM p,
ION sense OLA majority of all concerned 8:
n which the power of local law must de- n.
we are in the wrong, we shall I'll
ccept the condemnation with as good Oh
race as possible, and prepare to abandon IN
ur range and present location to the s,
leep. But we are not at present appre- si
ensive OF any such verdict from the per- SO
lament settlers of this neighborhood. If, le
n the other hand, we are considered to be 70
J the right. then the responsibility of any vi
ouble which may occur in the future will II
st wholly upon the. shepherds, who, in co
ur opinion, are the first and only ag- vi
lessors. tic
: CHARLES ANCENEY. sn
Butler ON the Army Bill. ~,
Washington, January Seen. Ben But ~