The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-12-14


Eiit0T LaadsF.
DEAR kIR;-IB your issue Of Sunday
GPpe4n al article signed Maverick, in
which allusiOR 4 made 10 the Wyoming
stock laws, the stock association and
myself.
1 have rarely found il advisable 10
answer an anonymous letter. The man
who Is ashamed TO put his name TO
what he writes merits no reply and
must naturally expect his charges to be
considered false OF dictated by personal
feeling. But as this letter gives nre a
much desired opportunity Of making an
explanation 10 pun community, in re-
gard TO some recent events not gener-
ally understood. l ask the use of your
columns TO reply.
The Wyoming stock growers associa-
ton has for one Of its chief objects the
suppression Of theft, without distinction
Of age, sex, color, or social position.
Five years ago this county and territory
were oyerrun and held in terror by
bands Of desperadoes OF determined and
dangerous character. Property Of all
kinds outside OF the large lows was IN
safe, and travelling on the best known
highways insecure. Nine-tenths Of
these men are to-day under the sod or
In the ~penitentiary, and the community
owe these blessings Of peace and secur-
ity 10 the stock ASSOCIATION more than
TO any other agency. Western Nebras-
I; ka applied TO us, protesting themselves
helpless 10 meet the evil, and we cleared
their country, and by it, our eastern
border. Doc. Middleton, the we'll
, known horse thief, now at Lincoln pen
/ itentiary, said, "Take the Wyoming
stock association of my trail and I'll
, stand of the state OF Nebraska"
B. Were other evidence wanting OF the
success Of their efforts, the influx of
capital TO this territory since 1875
speaks In language stronger than words.
There Is to-day no cattle district in the
United States where so little theft is
committed, and where the poor man
can feel so confident Of securing to him
self the fair earnings Of his little CAPT
tai, as in the eastern part of Wyoming
. territory. II needs but a moments re-
Election Of what this town and county
would he were the stock business taken
. bodily out of 1t, TO sec the enormous
service this association has rendered by
n / nuaEf,. that l.suf.aaa aofa ,.,- ,NN~.a
tive TO capital.
Il Allusion is made to the pay of the
stock inspector by the county. The
s above work the sheriff and his ordinary
= ! deputies have been incapable of per.
forming; not from ineficiency, for Mr..
! Draper has been most energetic, but
from lack Of knowledge Of the haunts
: : of these men, Of the country they infest
+ proper horses, etc. 1t is rs extra dep,
uty for a work in which the prosperity
and the very life Of the county IL in,
! volved, that this inspector is paid. In
this work no distinction has been made,
a and the Observation-Disclosures road agent,
murderer, stock thief, or train robbei
has been hunted down with the SAM
effective and unceasing energy. The
county owes ordinary protection to any
business interest within its borders,
and Il is on the broad ground Of protec'
ton for the most important one-botl
in dimensions and revenue paid 10 the
county-as well as the protection Of the
lives and p~ropertv NJ ali c;tizpps that
this payment is assumed by the local
government.
This association appoints annually nm
executive committee of three. Every
important action of the association has
, their united assent. The committee
for the past year has been Messrs. J.
NJ. Carey, Z. Maggie and myself.
Let me further state that the associa-
, ton is largely composed of small own
ers, and three-quarters of the appli-
j cations to the secretary and work dope
r by the inspector Is for the benefit of
its poorer owners and others, not men,
bers, who are the least able to keep an
, outfit sufficient TO protect their in
terests.
l turn now to n brief explanation of