The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-12-10
COLUMBIAN BLOOMSBURY COUNTY

Of employing the number Of agents
necessary for the prosecution OF the
work.
Another obstacle in the administra
tion and enforcement of the law has
been the large grant OF lands that has
been made in alternate sections to rail
roads along their lines. In Wyoming
the railroads have parted with their
titles to these alternate sections, and
the purchasers have erected fences upon
them in srch a wav as not to build
upon any lands belonging to the Gov
ernment, and yet to enclose large por-
tions of the public domain.
The Presidents proclamation and
the action of the agents OF the De-
partment have arrested the further APP
preparation of the public lands by these
unlawful Enclosures. They have also
produced more tolerant spirit towards
actual settlers. Before this frequent
reports of violence aud intimidation by
those maintaining unlawful fences
against citizens desirous to enter home
steads came to the Department. Some
of the agents now report that those
having such fences have erected gates
allowing ii.gress and egress to settlers
who have gone upon lands within their
Enclosures, and have openly proclaimed
that they have no desire to prevent
settlemert upon the public domain by
actual settlers, and the right of way to
the public lands is accorded to them
Whilst, however it is claimed that
many trespassers on notification have
removed their fences, il is undeniably
true that larger number still main
tain them, and will refuse, to obey the
law except under actual compulsion.
In order to obtain direct information
on this subject instructed the two in
speotors appointed under the act of the
last Congress to give it their special
attention and to report TO the Depart
ment directly. One was sent to the
Territory of Wyoming and the other
to the Territory of New Mexico. The
result of their investigations within the
limited time has furnished to the De-
partmeDt enlarged and more special
information upon the subject. They
report q number of Enclosures and ar
area inclosed in these two Territories
far beyond what l had been led to ex-
pect.
How the illegal occupation and posses
sion of the public domain could have
grown to such enormous proportions
is beyond my comprehension
In its social, moral and political as
pect, not less than in its economic re-
suits, the existence and growth of such
lawless combinations resting upon un
lawful Enclosures of the public domain
and protected by the requirement of
titles, through devious or more openly
fraudulent methods, to the controlling
sources of water supply, constitute to-
day phenomenon of American life
and problem of political import that
demand the intelligent attention and
action of the Congress of the United
States. When it was first represented
that substantially the entire grazing
country west of the 1O0lh meridian had
been fenced in by cattlemen, l could
not give credence to the statement of
such lawlessness and rapacity. But
the testimony of the residents of the
Territories, who have no motive for
misrepresentation, corroborated by re-
ports based on personal inspection of
agents and surveyors now on record in
the departme ut, establish the fact H.
deed, it is publicly announced, by the
trespassers themselves, who not only
acknowledged that they have unlaw-
fully fenced in the public lands with
out any limit except their own pleasure
and power, but they Justify their action
and complain against the execution of
the law as an oppressive and unjust
hardship.