The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-01-02
LETTER FROM z. q. BROOKE,
With Some Remarks About Public Lands,
Cattle, Subsidies, Newspaper Sub
scriptions, Etc.
Editor Mem North Kesf I.

Editor Eeu North Vest:
Enclosed and five dollars (Christmas pres
ent) which You will credit on my subscrip-
ton to ysur paper.
am more than pleased at the way you
speak out in the last issue Of the NEW NORTH
WEST on General Brisbin's late letter to the
Herald, relative to the Great National Cattle
Trail from Texas to British America, and the
leasing Of the grazing lands by the Govern
ment to cattle nonopolies. am led to
think, from the Generals letter, that he
must own large interest in the cattle indus.
try OF Texas, or why weuld he jeopardize
the interests of all the cattle growers in the
Western States and Northwest Territories
for the benefit Of citizens Of Texas, as we'll
IS citizens Of England, Scotland, Ireland,
France and Germany? for be 1t known that
the citizens Of all those countries arc inter-
ested in the stock industy Of Texas; and
while the General condemns the pslicy of
allowing their stock to feed on the public do
main west ofthe Missouri river without pay
ing rental fee for 1T, he advocates giving
them free pass with their diseased cattle
from Texas, in the extreme South, to British
America, north Of us. Now, Mr. Editor, As
enc Of the many small stock growers of
Montana, If we are to be fenced out from the
range in the vicinity Of our homes by own.
era Of large herds. 1t would, imagine, make
no difference whether the owners were ma
tive or foreign monopolists As to the Gen.
erals charge that we are all trespassers On
the public domain, doubt II there can be
an individual found among the pioneers of
Murtana En fp1ln-aI h.
plains twenty years since who considers him. |
self trespasser, though his cattle do fatten |
on the bunch grass that grows spontaneous |
on the public domain. imagine that when |
the grazing lands Of Montana are leased to |
and fenced In by monopolists, or ether par |
ties, be they natives or aliens, General Bris- |
bin might be called upon to act in his legiti- |
mate capacity to protect the legal rights Of /
the parties who rented. Would it net be
better, should Congress deem 1t proper and /
advisable that the Government should re-
ceivs some revenue for the use Of Its pastur-
age, instead Of leasing for . long term of
years, to collect an annual tar from the own
ers Of the stock ranging on the public de-
main ,eIempting certain number ofstock be-
longing TO ranchmsn those who have acquir-
Du ROVGfuHcub Auu arc Nv /
ing on it) and also exempting all cows used in
the dairy, by which means that branch of
husbandry might be encouraged and persons
led TO embark mere extensively in butter
making, thereby obviating the necessity Of
our merchants shipping from the East so
much eleomargarine? Certain IL Is that we
small stock growers would greatly prefer
paying an annual tax on our surplus stock
hat winter on the range than to have eur
'tock driven off, or in preference to having
argc bodies Of land enclosed with barbed
wire fence, thereby closing up our trails and
'oads leading from one valley to another.
Now let the Government compromise with
he several railroad companies for all the
.razing lands included in the various dona-
ions to the said roads, and then keep OF and
'ut all stock except that belonging to citi- ,
sens But when commenced this letter IL ,
was only fer the purpose Of renewing my ,
subscription to ysur paper, and to thank ysu
or the able manner in which you ans wer
General Brisbin's letter in the Herald On the
luestiens OF the cattle trail and leasing the
.razing portion Of our public dsmain-a vol
lntary defense Of the best interests Of the
anchmsp Of Montana against the Cattle
Kings Of other countries. And this reminds
ne Of the noble effort you made in behalf of
he ranchmen and the greatest interests of
Montana in defeating the bill at the ballot
'ox, on the 10th day of April, 1874, to donate
o the Northern Pacific railroad company I
bree million dollars, which was emily de-
Gated by 252 votes. Thus IL Is that every c
anchmsn In this Territory owes ysu at least
debt Of gratitude, and they should patron.
70 the NEW NORTHWEST. You may con- /
niue to send 1t to my address as long as am 4
bic to pay for It, III
Wishing you the compliments of the sea
On, am Respectfully your friend,
4. G. BROOKE.
whitehall, Dec. %, 1884. "a,