New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-29

are informed that "ths Department will lnterpoSe
no objection to the destruction OF these ienceS
by persons who desire to make pona
fde settlements on the inclosed tracts
but are prevented by the fences, or py
threats of violence from doing So" Such langusso
on the part OF great Government the senator Ao-
CARDS, to say the least, as extraordinary
WHAT 1T AMOUNTS TO IN THE WEST.
at interposes no objections" he sald, to-hlguV'
"Just think of it, how kind 1t doesn't object 10
some poor devils going and getting their sku'ls
broken, or daylight put through them, Tor that IL
amounts to out there. In my own State know
that If six marshas OF as many soldiers were sent
TO destroy those fences, the cattle men
would not dare to oppose them :,,or on cones res
asg ShsG ha4S 4Ssv when SndSaS leaving
their ranch, or they make away with him; Ihey
would never think of opposing lawful autnoIay,
and in view of this the inacton OF the Departhone
is scarcely to be understood. Not only do THESE
graziers fence in lands erecting posts CUT on ine
public domain stretching miles upon n,es Oh wire,
but they also sell, actually sell the Government
land which they don't own to foreign caPtaitSIs; ISL
Here is an item from Nebraska paper, when teus
of one w, j. Wilson-who owns the Circle hanche, enc
in Southeastern, Colorado. which rs sur
rounded by forty miles of fenceohaVnlnngg ing
sold this tract I EngIaPd gGG ,io5 for $4,000
and the cattle np9p 1t Tor S$4 neda: 40 rIvsge
of grazing the cattle that ranch hut then 1t Is
privilege to which Wilson has no right"
STEALING GOVERNMENT LAND.
Reports on file in the Interior Department confirm
what Mr.. Van Wyck says this subject. In
northwestern Nebraska, one agent reports that
he found several sections fenced in by hundreds of
miles of fence. Persons intending to settle
on such lands are always informed that
the ranchmen will freeze them ont"
Upon one of the fences, an obscene notice
was posted at intervals warning the man who opens
the fence that ne had better look out for his scalp
In one case the manager of ranch is accused OF
having extOrted money from settlers who wished
to acquire lands within the tract fenced in by him.
REPORTS of threats made by the employees OF ranch
men are asG numerous. From letter from hpeGIal
Agent Tulls the following abstract is taken; Il The
COW boys picket the entire line to see that
the conditions and provisions of the
notice are not violated; and the aforesaid
cowboy does not 90 to the nearest Justices Court
and file his complaint IN case of violation Dut
Just points his Henry rife Ill the direction where IL
will do the most good and If some one Is Killed IL is
charged mp to the Indians or the highwaymen."
The number of complaints lodged IN the Depart
ment by persons whose rights have been lnteriered
with increase with every year. The failure ol the
Government to give effect to the act OF MaTch .,
1907 has been explained ON the ground that the
Attorney General is not sure whether that act has
been rendered invalid by the Homestead law lie IS
understood to have made inquiries to that effect at
the Interior Department. Why he should have done
do being the highest law officer of the Government
passes Senator Van Wycks comprehension. Ills
resolution he hopes will enliGhten him somewhat.