Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-09-08
THE FENCE CUTTERS.


fcrcnccs iroDNDls.
Mr.. s. T. Evans, one of the largest
cattlemen in the Panhandle, was In
the city yesterday aud was interviewed
by a GAZETTE reporter in regard to
the troubles between the ranch
and the wire.icnce cutters which has
recently thrown the whole state into Il
fever OF excitement.
Have you. had any trouble with the
fence cutters In your country, and II
not, do you anticipate any in the near
future?n asked the reporter.
No; we have not had any trouble
as yet, and / think the troubles will
he settled before our section becomes
so thickly settled as to give cause for a
conflict between the cattlemen and
the wire-cutters.
Does this conflict extend generally
over the state, or Is it confined toyhat
L. known as the border countless"
"If sou were to stretch line from
Wichita county To Taylor county you
would probably touch those counties
which ARE most seriously agitated over
this question:
"Tne trouble lies in what is known
a. the "bOrder Counties There the
state is being rapidly filled up by emil
grants. some of whom own no land
and some Of whom are bona fiae set
tiers, Nearly all of these nesters and
sauatters rs they are called own few
cattle. and as the country is so rapidly
filllngup sufficient provision for roads
and gates have not been made for in
gress aDd egress. They consider them
selves e1Egieved and commence OPEN
ing UP roads and cutting fences in an
indiscgiminlte manner
"Iiave not the ranchmen in many
instances fenced in land which does
not belong to themN'
Yes. some Of the large cattle men
own a. much as one hundred thousand
acres OF land, aud In order TO fence it
in they must ran their fences across
other lands, and in doing 50 often en-
close men who own only few hum
dred mcres. The state has sold the pub
tic lands in such large quantities that
this cannot well be avoided
do you know Of any manner In
which these differences and trouble:
COULD 10 settleu'"
II tlink ls will be done by the
sober second thought Of the people
who viii make concessions on both
sides, and Icy legislation. The prlnci'
pa troube lies in the unreasonable
demands made by the nes;ers who de-
maud more roads and openings than
are really necessary. | have known
of several instances where differences
have been adjusted by bringing about
n conference and establishing roads
and gates at given points. have all
along been opposed To the state selling
the public lands in such large quaint
ties and think it should be reserved 10
the natural growth and increase o
population.
'Our whole western frontier viii
sooner or later be thickly settled, ant
/ think our legislature should reserv
the right 10 open up roads and outlet
AS occasion demands them. Under tn
present law this matter is eontrol,e'
by the county commissioners, bu
many OF our western counties ate no
orgusized.N
.D3 you think this bitter feelln.
and consequent acts of violence vii
increase until it will be necessary I,
convince the legislature 10 nljus
matters 81
II thiuk the matter is al Us height
and the troubles. as | said before, ar,
confined TO the border counties.
| have recently been III some of thes
cDunties.and can see that those men VIII
nave hl.aertO occupisd negative pc
sition are becoming active in tryin
to adjust the difficulties. No dout
some legislation may be required bu
the sober second thought of the peopl
there seems 10 be asserting itself.
think that the nlsters and caffeine
have enough interests In common {
ultimately make them desire som
means of arbitration by which the
diiiervneies can be settled. In every /,
stance in our county when ingress an
egress have been asked for il h
been granted.
The outlook is decidedly better; II
terested parties are beginning to :,
that violence accompiishes nothin
and Are using every means 10 Brit
about n settlement. The mob elomei
is dangerous at all times, and acts
violence will no doubt go on, but wit
proper legislation and sober consider
ton of the people il will be finally an
amicabiy settled. There has bee
some talk OF range burning, but | ~
prehtnd the difficulties will have bee
settled before that is made possible b
the dry nature OF the dead grass.