Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-09-01
raE WIRE PENCE CUrrERs.

THE WIRE FENCE CUTTERS.
Editorially the GAZETTE has been
silent upon the cutting of wire fences
recently inaugurated in some sections
of Texas, because it believed the re-
ports of depredations of this kind
were exaggerated, and hoped the ex
element, ill-feeling and discussion
engendered by isolated instances
oflawlessness would soon pass away.
However, the reports of such acts con-
tinue to multiply, and rs certain jour-
nails and correspondents have seen
proper to dish up for the delectation |
of their readers highly colored and |
sensational reports of the so-calltd |
great conflict imminent between stock |
men and farmers, it becomes the duty
of this journal, as the paper published
nearest the scenes of the fence cutting,
to give detailed, fair and impartial
account of the trouble, its origin, and
it possible suggest n remedy. In the
first place, the conflict is not between
the stockmen and the better class of
| farmers who are able to own land. I'll
man purchases land for agricultural
stock ranges, he is as much interested
in having his own property under
! fence, as protection to his crops, as
the stocknan is in preserving the range
In ,t.t II g. r.
the depredations of another mans
herds Were there no wire fences in
the country, the thousands of cattle
enjoying the freedom of the rangeu
of the freedom of the farmers corn and
wheat fields, and all the cowboys in
Christendom could not hold them off
the inviting fields of maize and
waving grain. Besides, the agricul-
turist who locates in the attic country,
! i'll addition to farming, soon become,
the possessor of at least II small herd,
: and If he numbers among his acres
good range or good water, he natural
ly seeks to protect it from the inroa6s
of his neighbors. Thus it will be seen
, the interests of the stocknan and
, the farmer are in a measure Identical,
) cutting is the result of war between
the two falls to the ground. The man
who pays his money for land, either
: for range or farming purposes. is en-
a i AH m fill - l.,
both by law aud morals, and if he be
stockman or agricuturist, self-interest
prompts him to avail himself OF the
privilege, and both are and will al
! cheapest safest and most convenient
: mode of protecting their herds and
crops.
e The truth of the matter IL the men
E who are chiefly instrumental in the
e destruction of fences are of IA class long
l known in Texas as "squatters," who
i own no land themselves, and demolis h
e Il fence enclosing II farm as quick as
one surrounding pasture They
s sometimes possess Il few head of cattle,
= often none at all, but are ut all times
e willing to join in moves they think
+ will damage their more fortunate or
: weather. neighbor. They are, prin-
cipally of predatory nature, roaming
1 around with their ilocks in search OF
{ good pasture and water; and it matters
}, not To them If a man has laid his
l. money and holds Il clear title, if they
h envy his range they cut his fences, and
. then raise the cry that he was rich
: man expressing and starving the cat.
d tie of the poor by fencing up all the
i good range and water--to which they
3 have not the shadow of claim, and
r he a good and honestly acquired title
: That this class of men compose large
v majority of the fence-cutters the GA.
!. zETrE believes, though here ard there
: may be found n good and honest man
1 who has been led astray by the clamor
: and Misrepresentation about the grind
S ing down of the poor by the rich, when
i in truth it l. nothing more than
: the occupation of what have
heretofore been free ranges by
those to whom they belong. This Is
| a spirit OF communism but lately de-
J. velopei in the West, and will disap-
, pear before the march of enlighten-
: ment and Improvement.
a But IN the meantime 1t is an evil