, 1886-09-14

Removal of Cattle from Indian Lands
Good crops, and the Range sItua-
tim.

Mr.. j.. X. Moore, post trader at the
Shoshone reservation, is in the city, and
the reporter was fortunate to secure a
talk with the pleasant and courteous gen
tleman in his rooms at the Inter Ocean
hotel.
The removal of all stock belonging to
white men from the Indian reservation
had been in progress some time when
Mr.. Moore left the agency. This action
is but another. and if possible more
%glaring example of the chronic impracti-
bility under which the laws relating to In
dian affairs suffer.
A line drawn entirely around the reser-
walton would be some 300 miles in length.
Within this line have been raised some
10000 head ofcattle, 1000 head of horses,
and $1,000 or 10000 head of sheep. The
reservation has been the home of thee
animals from their birth. Here they have
lived, knowing no other range. Now this
stock is taken at once from its native
range. driven Just across the line, and of
icially ordered to stay there. As a matter
OF course it stays-just long enough to
enable it to get back again. The re
moval is being accomplished by the
United States cavalry stationed at Fort
Washakie, and the officers iuform Mr..
Moore that the cattle practically follow the
troops back to the reservation. Here is
an imaginary line 300 miles in extent,
with 10000 cattle and 1000 horses within
sight of it. and these horses and cattle are
not expected to cross that line to reach
their native ranges. because an official
and legal dictum stares them in the face.
As Mr.. Moore truly remarked. "A brigade
of cavalry could not herd these cattle off
the reservation.
And the mere attempt to herd these
cattle of their old ranges will breed seri-
GUS trouble. The attempt to keep then
off will necessitate the cattle being kept ON
the move all the time, and on the run a
greater portion OF it. This will work a
most direct and disastrous injury to
the stock, and corresponding dissatisfac-
ton will be aroused in the minds OF the
owners.
Even from an Indian standpoint, Mr..
Moore is convinced that the action is
most i'll advised. The grass on the reser
walton belongs to the indians, and should
be allowed, as heretofore, TO be a source
eff revenue TO them. This revenue was
about the only cash income the Indians
could boast, and it came direct from the
pockets of the owners Of those cattle, in a
grass reut Of this the Indians are now
deprived, and that. too, without any cor.
responding benefit placed to their credit.
he Indians themselves condemn the &C
ton, being shrewd enough to see that it
is To the disadvantage Of both white and
red.
Mr.. Moore thinks it not improbable
that by this time the officers in charge Of
the removal have made a report to the de
partment, unfavorable to its prosecution.
There is said 10 be a rumor al at, by the
way. that the department will solve the
vcxed problem by Off sially ordering that
no border grass shall grow upon the rcs,r
walton. As will readily be seen, this
will speedily narrow both the question
and the reservation also.
Mr. Moore says that the grass is quite
short on the cattle ranges. Beef is be
ing shipped very close. The calf crop is
very good. Crops, especially hay, have
hmm vnru hmm