Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-01-02
A HERD LAW.
A HERD LAW.
The Adyisability of Herd Law AND Its
Effect on the Cattle Interests
If Passed. Should be Entitled An Aet 10
ConIlscatc Cattle.
And Would Tend to Giant MonOrolics in
Land and stock.
An Interesting Discussion OF Pre-
posed State Law.
special TO the Gazette.


Austin, January IA gentleman,
whose relations TO the stock interests
and extensive communication with
stockmen give him peculiar advan-
tages 10 voice their sentiments, was in
terviewed to-day by GAZETTE re-
porter regarding the herd law, which
is suggested ny some as Il solution of
fence-cutting troubles:
"What do you think of the advisa
bility of such a law and Its efiect on
the stock interests?' TX
''ln the first place think ffehpuld
not be entitled Il herd law, but, ii
passed, 'au act to conilscate the cattlc
of the poor man in Texas. ihs
why should IL be thus nained?"
Because, IL my observation il cor
rect, IL Is only about twenty-five or
thirty men in the state who Lave
rruwn rich of free range and IRE able
To buy up all the land in their vicinity
that want it,
What inducements had this class
TO become its advocntes?n
"By ingratiating themselves into the
favor of foreign capital, they are in
position 10 command cheap money
10 purchase all the land they could
utilize. The smaller men being un9-
bile 20 purchase the necessary lands
would br compelled 10 sell their cattle
Mt whatever price they could get
Thus few wealthy syndicates would
absorb all the cattle interests nj their
own rate. 1t would be but n repeti-
lion of the history of all great monDE-
oiies-thc big men freezing out the
little ones. aud by coruering the mar
ket swelling theirimmense fortunes In
the process, II should be remembered
in this connection that foreign capital
which the large men secure only costs
four and six per cent, While the
smaller men have to pay two per cent
"a month for money, and ii IS almost
impossible for them To obtain IL ut
that.n
"Iu what portion Of the state woulda
herd law be most acce ptable:"
"lu the southwestern. because IL Is
very sparscls settled and is not eopsid-
cred IA first class agricultural country.
IT has not increased in pop
ulaiion with the same ratio OF the
northern and northwestern sections
and contains fewer small stockmen."
Where would lis effects be most
injurious ~
From The Houston & Texas Cen
trail east. | have bought more cattle
there, perhaps, than any other one
man, and seventy-live per cent is
owned by tenants and small farm
ers who own from 100 10 $50
acres OF land, and that very
poor for grazing purposes The
tenants are struggling for q start
and are not ahle to buy pasture lands,
else they would purchase homes.
hos slrp "a
in order to retain their tenants would
furnish them with grazing lands, but
this theory won't do. Few people are
80 generous rs 10 furnish their prop
crty to others free; the probabilities
are that they would charge such II ruin
Gus rate for pasturage that the tenant
could not afford 70 maintain
his stock. He would simply
be ut the mercy of his
neigllbor, and could only
abide byekuch terms rs might be inn
posed upon him.
"iIow do you thinl. land owners re-
gard the proposed law"
"In those sections of the state where
parties live ON the land they own an
majority are opposed TO
it. Land Spectators are in favor of
1t through their anuts, uncles, sisters
and brothers and othei relations they
made large urchases under the fifty
cent act, and ii the legislature could
be induced TO pass - herd law q market
would lie created by it,"
"rhen you do not nppreiiena an app
Of land values ns one OF the
'esults % Il herd law?p
"No. In the West. where the large
,tocll syndieates would operate, land
would probably command n better
igure. but in the agricultural regions,
. would be decreased in ,alue.p
"What are the chances for the pas
age OF such Il law by tue legislature"
~ don't think il would get more
han four votes in both houses from
WHO live east OF the Central
ailway, and these would never be re-
armed. IL wouAd become more un-
,olMlnr than the Rmose-house and dog
AK. What mwanding influences
nay be brought to bear upon the
Western members no man can tell. II
he biz IS ever introduced and the
eading daiDsa win expose the true
nieng Of the law, petitions against iss
assaee VIII How in % fast from Inc
!lst thai no mtn who nus any polit-
cal aspirations viii dare 70 giye u bis