, 1884-12-16
THE FENCES FlTED.
An Interview Last Evening With
Special Agent Sanborn.
CattIemen Taking Down Fences on
the Public Domain.
Government Satisfied With Conssr.
vatlve But Effective Measures.

Special Agent Sanborn, of the Depart
ment of the Interior, has been in the city
several days and it being stated that he
was in Cheyenne upon important business
connected with fences and public land
matters, a reporter of THE LEADER last
evening interviewed him with reference to
the import of his visit In reply to a
statement that rumor had made his visit
one Of great importance Mr.. Sanbon
spoke as follows:
Il am simply here in behalf of the
Government So far as the matter of
fencing the public domain Is concerned 1
think it is one that will be readily settled.
The cattlemen are taking down the fences.
They are satisfied that it is wise to take
them down and the Government is salts
fed with their removal. l am not at
liberty to go into the details of the object
Of my visit. Publicity would have a
tendency to defeat, or at least make diff
cult, the very things I might wish to &C
complish."
Then you do wish to accomplish GER
tain ~things2"
Il am supposed to do all in my power
to protect the Government. Myterritory
is a large one and includes Wyoming,
Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. l
could learn very little during a flying visit
and therefore will be in Cheyenne a few
days"
rs the government about to move in
the matter of fraudulent entries under the
desert and pre-empt.on acts?"
II am Of course expected to protect the
government. This matter cannot all be
settled in a day or a year. If the errors of
the past twenty-five or thirty years are
remedied during the next few years the
government cannot complain Informa-
ton of fraudulent entries is not easily OBJ
tanned and even after it is obtained proof
must also be prepared to substantiate it."
1T is not the intention to pry into the
details Of your official instructions, nor is
an answer expected to unwarrantel ques-
tons, but SO far as you are at liberty to
state the intention of the government
toward fences on publiclan and fraudulent
entries, THE LEADER would like the in
formation"
''The fences must be removed, but
nothing can be accomplished by giving too
much publicity to the details. neither can
I best serve the Department by bouncing
down on the people and treating them in
such a way that personal luminosity would
be aroused. Whatever duties 1 may have
to perform may just as well be executed
pleasantly and in a gentlemanly manner.
All that l am expected to do is to protect
the government and its lands to the best
Of my ability"
Il understand that the Sun will pub
lish an extended and perhaps a sensation
al account Of your visit"
1T has no authority from me, nor any
facts upon which to base such an article.
| have said no more to anyone than 1
have to you. Wyoming is part OF
the territory in my district and
hence l am here in an official way. While
l think oft, l want to say that the Office
Of the Surveyor General as managed by
Mr.. Medium, and the Cheyenne Land
office, under its present officers. are two
Of the best conducted offices in my dis
trict. if not in the West"
so you n give any particulars of
the object of your visit or its result?"
There is nothing to tell. The cattle
men are taking down the fences and the
Government is always anxious to learn of
any frauds in land entries. You see how
the matter stands?"
Mr.. Sanborn then babe the reporter
Good night and that individual de-
parted. During the conversation Mr..
Sanborn referred to recent decisions made
in Colorado and elsewhere regarding the
fences, and it appeared that his visit was
more especially with reference to fences
on the public domain. 1t also appeared
that his visit was an important one, the
details of which could not now be dis
closed.