Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-11-05
GENERAL KING.
Interesting Interview on the Subject of
Pastures and Fence Cutting.
Possible Solutions of the yexea Question
Its Causes and Cure.
The Shccp-killing Problcm--i LITTLE
Pluck Might Win.
special Correspondence orino Gazette.


ity, in these days of non-commlttal
conservatism, OF positive convictions
and displays no hesitancy In express.
ing them. Yesterday u GA2ErsfE re-
porter engaged him In conversation
concerning his investigation OF the
fence-cutting trouble, having visited
Coleman. Jack, Clay, Denton and sew
eral other counties ON that mission.
"General, how did you find the peo-
pie on the scene of the recent dis
turhRnce ~
They are almost Quletcd now.
Operations have been ulled 10 await
the action of the legislature
"liow We're you received ~
VERY kindly, held formal and
informal meetings In every county,
which were largely attended, evlncing
the interest OF the people In my pres
cnce. IL was inconvoniont FOR me To
80 to Jackshoro, but at Weatherford
! was met 10y n delegation of Jack
county citizens
What was thonaturc of these meet
ings?r
~ discussed with the people the
policy they should adopt 10 remedy
the evils which disturb their section
what did you adviser"
First, that lawlvsness should be
stopped; second, that they should meet
rs neighhors and friends and arrange
n temporary compromise, 10y which
all hostilities should cease, and third,
that they should agree upon some
method of final settlement OF the mat
ter. and so instruct their representa-
tiVes. lfa satisfactory plan eau be ar.
ranged between them by which the
pastures will bc allowed 10 remain uu-
disturbed, the Eastern members OF the
legislature will concurin II without dis
sension, but II the Western men come
up to Austin without any well-deiincd
policy, the others must act at random
and probably perpetrato Injustice
IF The legislature fails To- enact sat
islaotory laws, do you think the fence
cutting mania will break out anowpn
Not TO such an oXtentas heretofore
There will be spasmodic cases, but the
Infection will be gone. StoclSmen will
not replace their fences unless sus-
tanned by sentiment and the law,
and my impression X that il the peo-
pie are not satisfied with the action of
| the legislature, n movement will bo
inaugurated to have an amendment
! added 10 the constitution authorizing
~ INV Nilt HtIf w
"Would such a law require q cOnsti-
tutional amendment ?p
"There Is difference of opinion.
There are able lawyers who think II
would not. | have not Investigated
the Natter
Would the pasturemen peacefully
acqniesoe In such Interference with
their busncss?n
ifIhnN tNa,t1I Ia, c,,.,nl 81, t. "a
came law. Besides they recognize
the power of the sentiment that Is ar
raycd against them and cannot hope
to successfully resist IT, Many of the
most prominent stOckmen have al
ready expressed willingness 10 tear
down their fences II no other basis of II
compromise can be reached
"Do you think there Is Il strong de-
m0nd for such radical movement?n |
mot so much among themselves rs
their neighbors the people Of North |
crn, Eastern and Middle Texas. The |
troubles, think, can
be reldiusted, without II,
yet there is strong impression among |
the people of the sections mentioned /
that nine out of every ten acres of the |
western country Is susceptible OF cul-
uvation, when In fact II Is just the re-
verse. The soil may he adapted to
agricultural purposes, yet the rainfall |
IL Insufficient. However. this idea |
generally obtains, and decming the |
big pastures an obstacle 10 the |
development of the cOuntry's ag-
ricultural resource. these people favor |
their oblteration."
"Will not the seasons become more
favorable ms time advancesW
scientists say so, and | suppose IL I
IL true, yet when these conditions
change they will work out their own
solution. The cattleman cannot hold |
the country against tho farmer. Land /
yields 30 much more in cultivation
than If devoted to stock raising that
the owners of stock viii be compelled |
to seek cheaper grass
What particular policy do you
tbink the legislature should adopt IN |
this question:
''Ifit Is decided 10 leave the area oftllc
pastures undisturl ed, provisions should
be made for gates wherever the con-
veniences OF travel demand. The peo-
pie do not want lanes. Suppose
lane was run through a pasture fifty
miles broad and n person travelling IN
4 wagon should meet q drove
u taltlcS containing i've UT hiA
thousand head, IL would he very In
10 pass them, and yet
here could be no retreat. And then
)lic could not get out to water or camp.
Lanes would not answer. The statute
leilning lawful fences should be en-
orccd. There Ia not u lawful fence In I
he entire Western country. The I
burden OF proof falls on the Daan whose I
itock Is killed. Force the pnsturemen
o put up the blinds required by law,
md but little litigation win be neces-
iary. They should be restricted from
encing IN water courses. The law
against the enclosure OF
iavigable streams and designating
he width of what are such esteemed
Z grossly violated. In one county the
colorado IL fenced up for forty or fifty .
niles. A heavy penalty should be the
rice for fencing M any land
% which one does not hold
! legal title. On the other hand severe
imprisonment IN the
,enitentiary il deemed necessary,