The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1885-01-22
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The Herd INV

The future actions of the legislature
are rather hard to bank on, but Of one
think there is certainty. The writer
of this article has personally interviewed
a large number of the Legislators, and to
a man, SO far as interviewed, they were
in favor of a repeal of the herd law ana
the establishment Of a fence law. Espe-
cially are the Hills members in favor Of
this and, as being the only place in Da-
kota where the herd Law, is abolished and
a fence law established, it will be well to
cA mine its operation. The whole coun-
try surrounding the Hills and up into
the foothills is first class agricultural
country. 1t is also a. good stock
country, and the conflict between agri-
cultural and stock interests now liable
to happenat any time here, was there
solved long ago. The herd law was
made imperative, and the fence law es-
tablished. Under this law each farmer
must enclose his ranch with a fence con-
sisting of four boards, or wires, securely
nailed to posts not over eight feet apart.
The law works perfectly, and from many
conversations. in the Hills we believe
that there is not a man there who would
vote for the repeal Of the fence law. OF
course, it brings more expense on the
farmer at the outset, but all agree thai
the fences far more than pay for them
selves. They are an almost certain pro-
lection against the depretlations OF stock,
they Immediately enhance the value of
the property enclosed more than the first
cost Of the fence, in many ways they en-
courage the farmer in traits Of economy
and neatness, and, especially to the one
accustomed to the unbOulie,l wheat
fields of the rest of Dakota, ii o. lend all
indescribable charm to the country that
can only be explained by the presence of
fences.
If this law is applicable to the Hills
country, how much more should it apply
to the Bad Lands? wills is pre-emi-
nently a stuck country, anu not an ag-
ricultural country. The Hills country is
far better for farming than it is for
stock. ~ E-.r
Then, under the present herd law, it is
perfectly simple thing FOR any evil dis
posed person to start an SS1O garden
patch, get cattle tO run over it and cincll
the owner Of the stock many times the
amount of the damage. This is a Sc
riOus drawback to the growth OF the
stock industry, and something that con-
Germs every citizen Of Dakota, who. is
looking toward Dak0ta's advancement.
The stock interests in her borders are
already large, but under proper laws
they will be vastly larger. "A;
As fur rs We are concerned, we think
it would be altogether better in the end
10 establish fence law for the whole
west Missouri country. This, however,
would entail hardslip,On many poor set
tiers, although among those who can af-
afford it, and view the matter from au
unbiased standpoint, admit that fence
law is better than a herd law. n
| There is certainly serious opposition in
many agricultural quarters against the
fence law, but this opposition in no way
affects US, as the Bad Lands is a unit ill
desiring it. We in the Bad Lands could
as we'll be exempt as the people Of tile
Hills. ts3 st 4; si 5i
It is a matter that concerns us alone
will benefit the Bad Lands largely, can
| harm no one, and best Of NIL, We thinE
will be in operation here before tIlis leg.
islature adjourns. 92 l;s:sss
The move to establish a. fence law fol
the whole west Missouri c0u6fre is the
| cause of the only opposition to its, adop
lti1n here. 1t should ba adopted here
without reference to the agricultural
part Of the country, and the problem will
| solve itself in time.