New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-27
Cattle RANCHES on rHEPUBLiC DOMAIN
TO the Edftor Of The Tribune.


SIR: An article in THE SEMI-WEEKLr
TRIBUNE OF December II would lead one TO suppose that
the ranchmen OF the Far West enjoy forced monopoly
Of the grazing lands Of the plains As stock grower who
has had an experience OF eleven years and spe
cal opportunity the development OF the public
land question: say that we have In no manner sought
10 gain any advantage over fellow citizens In the
use OF the public domain hut at the same time we feel
that We have just much right upon It as any other
persons who pay for the support OF the General
Government We nercr have claimed n sole permission
and power 10 the public lands Every Intelligent
stockman knows he hiss not vested right 10 them. hut
feels he Is doing the country injury by producing
thousands OF pounds o. wool and droyes OF beef cattle
from grasses that would otherwise to waste think
Won are mistaken ~ 10 awless violation Of the Home
stead Presumption laws In no part OF the land arc
they more closely observed than here The first settlers
have taken the choicest lands and + natur that they
should DO So and by owning tho water privileges they
enjoy the grass lands about them hui mat docs not
imply forced holding
Alta meeting held here last year composed OF STOCK
growers. petition drawn up and signed by MI, ask
ing that the public lands be pu into the market at
graded price, the first year - per acre. the second at
So the third 81 and the fourth ut % cents Was there
not I'm this petition disposition shown TO buy the lands
we are using and NJ fair price, tool The high Troe OF
the lands thus Idt into market would prevent non-resi-
dent capitalists from buying large tracts and II would
nrotect the actual settler who would be able 10 buy
.ovy his rngc during the years OF graduation. You
cannot make Congressman from the high priced lands
OF the Connecticut Valley believe there j. an acre within
the bounds this Union that Is only worth - cents
whereas members the West know there are thou
sands OF acres not worth paying The taxes on Hence
arises the delay in legislation upon the public land
| question. ,--- l.,
may 20 beyond the depth OF ordinary ranchman In
entering upon the question Of utilizing the arid plains by
aresan wells II Is that the artcsian wells bored
az Denver CHEYENNE Carron station and at or near Fort
LYON have been failures In $50 appropriation OF
$50 900 was made Congress for the purpose Of boring
two nresnn wells upon the plains. The expenditure OF
the uoucy was placed under the direction OF Commits
sioner After boring more than 500 feet AT Fort
Lyon well has been abandoned. Would u have been
given up had there been hope left OF reaching wacri
The report OF the scientists upon tins very wc appeared
I'm TuE Tribune and showed clearly the cnuscs existing
why water could not be found As for ever using the
plains for other than pastoral lands II Is foolish delu
sIOu The report OF the Signal Service shows that only
minimum OF rainfall required 10 produce crop
inches fall upon this sandy land without subsoiL In
acres adds cost OF so per acre TO the land II
wot.rs After the many failures Witnessed and
after rich Government has given up the hope OF IN
cressng the yaue OF its realty by the arteshn well VIII
| an individual bc found who will hazard his means In
such an encrprsci think MOI. IL seems To me tat
between the who would blame ranclnan for using
tbe grasses upon the public lands and he who would not
use them they are not absolutely his own com
| mon sense has no choice. Very truly,