The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-12-19

$3.50 49,
tie trail"
"The grazing lands of the United States
are worth at fair rental about $4,000 ,00(
per annum, and 1t seems to me some means
might be devised whereby the Government
could secure this revenue, especially II the
lands are to be used to enrich foreigners
rather than our own people. Ny own ideas
are to lease the grazing lands Ia the Terri
tories and apply the money derived to the
education Of the people. As to what meth
eds and under what rules the lands shall be
leased, am not yet prepared to say, but
fully agree with you In declaring that mo-
nopoliss shall be guarded against, the rights
of small owners protected and the home
steader and prs-emptor left uhtrammeled.
The necessity for some security as to range
for the csttle-raiser has become imperative.
While the country was unsettled and the
question Of the extent of Q mans range left
TO bis own judgment, 1t did not matter, but
now that the cattle are crowding upon the
ranges, the limits of every mans range must
be fixed 30 that he will know how to con-
duct his business and determine how many
cattle he may raise. The pernicious practice
Of one owners turning loose upon the range
of another will soon lead to violence and
bloodshed, unless We can fix the limit and
extent of each range. At present, nearly
every cattle grower on the plains Is Q tres.
passer on the public domain. This Ia not
his fault, but the fault Of the law under
which he lives. There Is at present no way
to lease the public domain for stock purposes
so the stock-rslser Is obliged to be tres
passer. II was to remedy this defect that
the memorial to Congress fayoring the leas-
ing Of the public domain to stock growers
was passed ut the late convention. The right
of the cattle men TO petition Congress cannot
be denied, and they did no more. The
method OF fixing the leases Of the lands was
left entirely to Congress, and plan was not
even suggested. The outcry against these
men by the press because they are wealthy
is most unjust. Suppose they do own $780,
100000 of the material wealth Of the coun.
try. Is that fact any reason why their bust
ness and their wealth should not be pro-
tected the same as that Of the manufacturer,
the farmer, or any other producsr'"
"But there is . greater danger than the
Jumper to cattlemen, and that 10 the en-.
croachment from foreign capital. Already
the English own nearly one-sixth of all the
herds west Of the Missouri river, and they
will soon swn half. These British cattle are
fed on American free grass for the benefit of
people who are not Americans and do not
live In the United States. The dividends
derived from these foreign Investments are
declared annually and sent to England, Ire
land, Scotland and France, neither the peo.
pie nor the government Of the United States
deriving one cent Of benefit from them"
Some portione Of this argument are strong-
ly put, but to q considerable extent they
neutralize each other. If it Is so great an
evil for English companies to own these
enormous pastures and lands, principally in
10 Tsxas,-which they acquired by purchase
under The exceptional conditions Of the State
being given the public lands therein-why
should the United States aggravate the evil
by establishing and setting apart six-mile-
wide trail through the States and Territories
to connect them with the British pastures in
the North. One of the greatest evils the
northsrly American stock grower breads Ia
the spread Of infectious or contagious dis
orders from these immense herds and this
inter. national trail would lead directly
through the heart Of the northern grazing
lands and render quarantine almost impos.
sible. Beside, unless q restriction that Is
highly improbable were secured against
alien grazers, the young herds Of Texas
would be driven north to mature On our al-
ready occupied ranges, thence into the Brit
ish Possessions to be shipped over English
railways and BY English vessels TO England.
General Brisbin advocates the leasing Of
American grass lands only to American citi-
zens, or ssnative Americans" - he expresses
It, but even in that case the United States
would be opening this highway through them
very largely for the benefit Of the alien land
and cattle owners OF Texas. The "trail"
suggestion does not seem to have any COM
mandatory features.
The proposition to lease large areas Of
land to graziers 10 derived from the North
west Territory-a vast, almost uninhabitable
breadth Of country from which the Canadian
government derives . triiing revenue by
leases to cattle growers. There may be iso-
lated sections In lie Territories Of the Uni.
tex States, not susceptible Of cultivation,
where some such system could be inaugura-
ted and maintained without injury TO the
public welfare, but It should be clearly
shown that they are incapable Of cultivation,
and do not invite settlement, before any
leasing scheme Whatever should be consid-
cred In connection with them. The culti>
vabIe public lands are diminishing rapidly.
The idea Of reducing cultivable Indian RESI-
arr stfons IN tha neressities af the Indiana
that settlers may acquire homes, 10 attract.
Ing much attention, and conceding oil the
Just claims Of the grazles the proposition
will not and should not meet with favor TO
vet apart and lease for . steer an ares ofland
that would maintain family. We doubt II
either the trail or lease propositions will ma
terislizs sufficient strength In Congress to
become formidable dangers 70 Montana.