Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-10-03
rhs Ysne. oas.tipn on tha Plain.

Ine agent or the Interior department
have recently made report to the COM
missioner Of the general land Office,
showing the the extent to which the
public domain has been fenced illegally
by corporations and individuals. The
figures are quite startling and call for
some measurers to check the evil. On
the more northern ranges it looks as if
the experience Of ranchmen would be
adverse to fencing, and that fences will
be removed as a matter of self interest.
The Colorado Cattle-Growers' Associa-
ton has, we understand, declared
against fences, and probably they would
be generally removed in the state to-
day but for the opposition OF small
owners who haye comparatively small
amounts of land fenced, which they do
not like to throw open. 1t has been
found that the cattle do the best, and
that the losses are smallest when they
have the whole wide plains before them
and no obstacle to interfere with their
free movement. We remember having
seen statement Of a ranchmen having
nearly 100, 900 acres fenced, from which
all stock was excluded during the sum-
mer, and late in the fall he rounded up
his fat beeves and placed them in this
incloseure, where he could get his hands
on them quickly at any time in the win
ter. But his calculations proved at
fault, for the snow fell upon his pasture
and remained during most of the sea-
son, while ten miles away there was
good feed, and he had to get his cattle
out of the enclosure to prevent them
from starving. 1t has been found, too,
that it Is dangerous to impede the
movements of cattle i'm the winter time
No matter how inclement the weather
or severe the storm they will generally
manage to get through if permitted free
movement. But when, travelling before
storm, the herds strike a wire fence
which cannot be passed, the cattle, un-
able or unwilling to work their way
back against the storm, and for their
numbers unable to move In either derec-
tion along the line of the fence, quickly
become chilled and die. During the
past season the fences destroyed great
many cattle, and principally losses were
due to these distractions. When fences
are put up frequent openings must be
provided for the passage OF cattle, or
they are likely to prove yeritable instru-
ments of death. And even I'm the stim-
mer time they are not entirely free
from danger, for We notice that very
recently herd was stampeded by
hail storm and came In contact
with wire fence, along the line of
which the Older and heavier cattle
trampled to death 800 Of the yotinger
and weaker ones. Losses from this
cause. however, are altogether except
ional.
On the moro northern ranges, espec-
tally, those in the open country, It is
doubtful whether fences will be main
tanned even If there were no opposi.
ton. but in the more southern country,
where storms are less violent and large
herds are less liable to get into motion
and travel simultaneously in one direc-
tion, the fences are likely to remain
and even become more numerous Unless
some legal measures for their removal
are devised. The Gazette Is decidedly
in favor Of some plan whereby the graz
ing interests on the plains can secure
more permanence and certainty, either
through an acquisition Of the land or
by some legal regulations by which q
definite right TO use for a specified
number of years can be acquired. But
until an actual ownership or some sor.
OF leasehold can he established by Law
it does not seem Just the proper thing
for either private individuals or corpo.
rattons to fence In large areas of the
public domain.-Chicago Breeders Ga.
zette.