The Wichita city eagle., 1882-02-09

the consideration of such measures as
will, in my opinion, most wisely protect
and advance that interest.
/ First-Preserye our native grasses.
Upon their preservation depends the
great stock interests of this State, pres
ent and prospective. No artificial grass
has yet been supplied which can be re-
lied upon as substitute for them.
They appear late in the spring and they
frost early in the fall, but they are bulky,
abundant aud nutritious. AT any rate,
they arc all we have, all we arc likely 70
have, aud if once DESTROYED our plains
wonld be desert indeed.
| Second-Repcal the homestead and
pre-emption laws. No further good
can be accomplished by continuing in
existence laws which result in harm to
their bencficiaries and embarrass the
operation of class of industries natur-
ally adapted to the State. If this can
not be effected, then abridgc the term
of occupancy and thus expedite The
facility of procuring title in fee, with a
view to the more rapid absorption Of
territory by the stock interest.
Third-Repeal the etimber-culture act.
Considering the prodigious conse-
quences which The advocates of this law
predicted for it, it is astonishing. how
pertinaciously the hot winds at times
! blow, stubbornly refusing TO be tract
| able or humid, and utterly indifferent
to the cottonwood-trce claims here and
there dotting the plains. Probably no
more practically absurd law was ever
enacted in Congress, save, possibly, that
other climber law" which proposes by
a compound OF astonishing inconsist-
encies to ''protect" American lumber
by cutting down American timber.
OF course, all vested rights under
these laws should be protected.
Again, the public domain should pass
as soon as possible or practical into the
hands of private owners. The home
stead, pre-emption and timber-culture
acts repealed, from time to time, as the
stock interests require, the public lands
should be appraised in solid sections
and offered for sale under the direction
OF il.r General Land Department. The
General Government would secure 4
large fund and the revenues of the
State be largely augmented. If the ex-
tensive land grants which the people
have given the railroad companies are
not taxed, they should be. If the prices
of agricultural lands are placed upon
them, then LEI them be taxed accord |
ingly.
With these important changes accom-
plished, should the herd law be repeal
ed! | think not. So long as large
bodies of untaxed and unoccupied land
can be ranged over, much may be said
in favor of law requiring improve
ments 10 be fenced. But when stock
men are obliged to purchase the range
and pay land tax, the situation is re-
verscd. They will then be sure to in
sist upon controlling and grazing their
own territory. To do this peaceably
aud profitably, sooner or later they
viii be forced 10 fence. Large bodies
ma, be enclosed in which several parties
can Join.
A law can be enforced requiring suit
able gateways TO be placed at regular
intervals. In The South such plan
prevails, maintained wholly by the ac-
ton of neig eighborhood practice.
The loss incident to exposure and the
loss by straying aggregate sums far
greater than the expense of barbed wire
fencing on the plan suggested. But
some one may urge why agitate these
sweeping changes now: The stock in
terests are not demanding them. Pcs
'ibly not, at least just yet. If the ratio
which has marked the increase of the
livestock interests in this State the
Dast two years is maintained the next
en, every acre Of grass on the prairies
md on the plains will be consumed.
Within half that time every available
place will be struggled Sheep
men and cattle men will battle for
'ange, and conflicting interests embroil
he whole territory. And if those
whose interests are exclusively stock
10 not oppose il, certainly in the coun-
les where the herd law has encouraged
mixed Lusbandry and small farms, its
epeal is now less called for.
The principle which underlics the
erd law is right. 1t is absolutely
vrong and absolutely unjust to compel
man TO foriify his possessions against c
nvasion by other mems property. A
NV which gives Texas steer or hog
lore privileges than "white man"
bould never be revived west of the
lissouri. Why now here in Riley
ounty, the paradise of stock men and
.nce law, ranches are being enclosed -
y miles and miles of expensive stone u
.ncing. Why not turn your stock
'ose Messrs. Bill 81 Burnham?
In conclusion it will be observed that
have confined myself TO brief discus
on Of general matters bearing upon
ar stock interests. | make no claim to
knowledge of stock as a speciality br
here are many gentlemen present who er
now far better than how most wisely
utilize the great need and advan-
ges which Kansas presents TO the
ock grower. Nor have | more than
erely utilized the several somewhat W
dical propositions advanced here Ba
ich one, if reduced 10 The practical de- M
lis IFS adoption requires, would in
live an entire ESSAY cf itself. They :,
c offered as suggestions mainly, and
they awaken an interest at all COM n,
ensurate with their Importance,
all certainly feel far more than repaid
r the time and thought have given
their consideration.
To set the house on fire, the following
cellent rules may be observed:
lst. Rub your furniture with linseed II
/, and preserve carefully the old greasy
gs used for this purpose in paper
X in an out-of-the-way place.
al. Ii the fire in the stove does not
rn well, pour benz:nc or kerosene on
from well filed gallon can.
3D. When you light your cigar or the