Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1890-02-20
Herd Law.
10 the Editor of the TIMES:

Herd Law.
10 the Editor of the TIMES:
In your issue of Jan. Both correspond
ent who signs himself Free Range objects
TO the present Herd Law for alleged rea-
sons which he gives He says we have
no cattlemen in this part of Kansas, that
the sOcalled cattlemen are mixed farmers,
and do more farming than our would be-
farmers and in the bottom of his article
tells US that this is not farming coun-
try. it seems queer that anybody should
farm IN country, but we all know how
the majority of our cattlcmen farm in
this country. Free Ranger may have
been unsuccessful in his attempt to farm,
this proves nothing. the writer of this has
done as much farming as any man in this
county. and after twelve years OF expert
ence is well pleased with the result, and
even # our crops are partial failure il
the last two years, still believes that this
is good enough farming country. Free
Ranger kicks because some farmers do
not haul their crops home in the fail, then
fence il, AID let the owner of stock make
use of the grass. Most farmers pay taxes
on their farm and ought surely to be III
lowed to do with their land as they may
please, it cost the farmer labor and mon
ey to have the use of his farm, and If the
stOckmen wishes the use it half of the
year. he ought at least contribute some
thing towards paying taxes on this land.
Free Ranger claims that before our pres
ent Herd Law was in force, farmers were
not compelled TO fence, and he asked Tie
repeal of the law, promising that cattle
owners would not turn loose during crop
seasons. From experience know that
before the present law was in force, every
township had one or more men whose
cattle were allowed to roam at will day
and night, summer and winter tramping
down trees and destroying the crops of
everybody. These cattle owners are the
cause of our present Herd Law end
ought to be as much despised by Free
Ranger as the would be-farmer who only
scratches over few acres of ground and
il lucky get Scots worth of feed to be left
in the field season in and .out Free
Ranger claims that we did not have half
the trouble before the Herd Law was in
force IS now, of course the cattle owner
had it all their own way. stock could
roam at will. Up to 1885 few farmers
were here aud these had to grin and bear
it, If they found their seasons work de
stroyed in one night by herd oe cattle
there being no redress, ever since the
country was settled up and until las. year
many farmer had to play cowboy and
herd somebody elses cattle day ard night
or have his crops destroyed. do not say
that all owners Of stock are black sheep
and would willingly allow their stock to
eat up and destroy the crops of their
neighbors, and should it happen, be will
ing to pay all reasonable damages done.
know lots of my reighbors that pay for
surplus feed and grass to feed TO their
stock. almost any farmer is willing to sell
to his neighbOr and stock owner all corii
stalk, grass and other surplus feed fer
small consideration, which any owner of
stock can well afford TO pay. If we were
TO abolish the Herd Law what would pre-
vent our good and bad s:ockowners from
turning their stock loose summer as well
as winter. / believe majority OF our
present farmers intend to make this their
home they have set ont orchards, shade
and forest trees, improved their farms,
piowed up good deal of land They
have had hard times to pull through. We
have had dry seasons before and will
have them again; We also had good sea
sons and more of the latter than the for
mer. 1t might snit some men to have
these farmers run out of the country
when they ought to be encouraged to stay.
as one or two good seasons will caab!c
them TO fence their crops and become
stockmen. The repeal of the Herd Law
might suit some localities in cur county, |
but not for the whole county, lis We have
more successful farming carried ON in our
county than Free Range is aware OF.
The area of wheat and rye sown last fall
will not be much below 4000 acres and |
may overreach it and from all reports |
promises big yield if stock is kept off of
it, but if IA or 5000 head OF cattle which
our county has, are allowed TO tramp all
over it. the yield may be much reduced. |
Personally it would be to my interest |
to have no Herd Law and have Free
Range, but for some of my neighbors, it |
would be, watch their crops day and |
night, or have tLeir crops destroyed by |
stock and he compelled to fence or leave
the country.
Nc MATRATH.