The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-11-19
THE GRAZING LANDS
STOCK MEN SPEAK THEIR MINDS
Full and Free Discussions on The Va
rious Resolutions OTered-The
One Adopted, -Let Well
Enough Alone 1

The Wyoming stock growers asso-
citation met yesterday morning at the
city hall, at 10 O'Clock. Hon. A. II.
Swan, president, occupied the chair,
with Mr.. Thomas Sturgis as secretary.
Mr.. Sturgis, the secretary. was then
called upon to state the purposes of the
meeting, which he did in a few concise
remarks, the substance Of which is con-
tanned in the first four resolutions given
below. He gave some figures and facts,
too, in order to prove that it was not
expedient to purchase the lands Of the
government at the present low figure Of
beef. He said that it had been care
fully estimated that it required 25 acres
Of land on which to Craze n steer, or
a million acres to support 1000 head
of cattle; the cost OF the land and fenc.
ing would DO $4,000. Thus, the owner
will have one sixth to one-seventh Of his
capital in dead material.
Mr.. Sturgis argued that no man could
| afford to invest this amount or a smaller
sum in the same ratio to his total capt.
tai, and realize any profits with the
small margins on the sale Of cattle.
Mr.. f. L. Warren was asked to state
his views on the subject. He said that
he very much favored letting well
enough alone. He did not think the
government would interfere with the
present condition of the lands for lat
least 10 or IS years. He thought that
an expression of a sentiment ~favorin2
the purchase at very low figures at the
present time would look as though the
stock men had formed a combination to
seize upon the best lands of the country
at a nominal figure, and thus deprive
heads of families from entering them
under the present laws. He stated,
further, however, that it was his opin.
ion that in a few years all the farming
lands would be taken up, leaving the
grazing lands for stockmen to arrange
for at a very small figure.
T. A. McShane, w. c. Irvine, Major
Evans and others spoke, all favoriDg
the sentiments embraced in the fourth
resolution.
MIR. Geo. r. Thomas was called upon
to give in his testimony on the land
question. He thought II some amend
ments were made to the desert act,'
giving the occupant the right to pre-.
empt the land without irrigating every
portion Of 1t, as now required under
that act, would answer the purpose.
The association on motion took a re-
cess until 2 p. M.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
A large number Of the association
were present, who were absent from the
forenoon session. Accordingly the
secretary again stated the main points
ut issue.
Mr.. Homer, of the territorial council
being present, was asked to give his
views on the question: also Mr.. Holli-
day, both of whom favored the policy
of recommending to the U. S. land
commissioner that the present condi-
lion of things were eminently satisfac-
tory to stockmen.
Il Mr.. Sturgis stated that the U. s.
land commissioner, Gen. Williamson,
wished that resolutions expressive OF
the various methods by which persons
could reasonably expect to get posses
sion of the public lands, be drawn up,
and submitted TO the stockmen for their
endorsement OIL disapproval. 1t being
the object of the land department to
recommend to congress some changes
in the land law.
Resolution No. / was then taken up
and read us follows:
Resolved, That in our Judgment the
best methods for disposing of the U. s.
grazing lands throughout Wyoming, is
rs follows: That "a cash valuation of
five cents per acre he placed on all lands
without reference to their character or
situation. That free entry be permit
ted in amounts of not less than 1B0
acres taken by legal subdivision and to
as large an amount as the purchaser de-
sires. limited us below by the right vi
other claimants. That one year from
the first of January next, following the
passage and going into operation OF this
net, be allowed to all occupants Of
ranges in which to purchase-that is
between mutual occupants Of n range
who canno agree upon the proportion
to be entered by each-the register and
receiver of the U. s. local land office
shall decide, basing their decision
on the cattle taxed to each, and so, pro
rata, the amount of land to each. That
after the expiration of one year the
land may be subject to entry by any
one.
Considerable discussion was then in
dulged in upon this resolution, but the
LEADER has not the space to incorpo-
rate the views of each individual.
Col. Babbitt offered an amendment
to the resolution, which vas defeated,
and the resolution proper was then lost.
The second of the series of resolutions
was then offered and read, a follows
Resolved, That all the lands, without
reference t the character or situation,
be offered for cash entry in any amounts
desired by the purchaser. but not less
than 160 acres, taken by legal subdivis-
ion, ut 81 % per acre. This price to
be maintained for one year from the
first day Of January, after the going
into operation of this act. At the end
Of that year the price on all unsold
lands to be lowered to 81 per acre I; at
the end of two years from the time OF
going into operation of the act it be
further lowered to 90 cents at the end
of three years to so cents, and so on de-
creasiDg 10 cents per annum until the
figure of 10 cents is reached. The year