, 1891-08-08
RIGHT OUT IN MEETING.
A Correspondent Talks Very Plainly
and to the Point.
Effects Which Must Follow Con.
tinued Cattle Thieying.
Some Reasonable Remedies That
are Proposed.

To the Editor OF The Leader.
LUsK, WYo., Aug. G.-Let me con.
graduate you and sour paper for having
awakened to the situation and sounded
the trumpet Of alarm IN connection with
the tact that our state is fast loosiug its
most important land up to the present
time its only rural industry which brings
money into the country viz, the live
stock interests.
The situation is much more serious tllan
is generally understood. The number of
herds which are going out Of business or
being driven to other states this year is
something appalling, | will venture to
say, that with the movement going on
this season the assessment roll on cattle
and horses next year will be so per cent
less in numbers than in 1891, and if ron
tinued through 1891 it will be down to a
nominal figure in 1892.
Ii space would allow l could take the
counties separately mot excluding good
Albany county, and give you a list of the
outfits which are either selling out and
their stock going out of the state or are
moving them out themselves and nothing
taking their place. Some will say this is
on account of the shortage of grass here
and which is 50 much better IN Montana,
I will concede in some places in Montana.
the grass is better (Montana has seen as
heavy losses on the ranges, and has more
sheep than Wyoming) but this is not the
reason stockmen drive their herds through
Wyoming and flock to Montana, Ne
braska and West Dakota, but it is because
they reserve better protection for their
property there. 1t is as important for
the stockman to have the laws enforced
and lis property protected as it is to have
grass for his stock to eat.
This year Wyoming has a better crop
Of grass than 1t has had for ten years, and
in many places better than Montana, and
what have we got 10 the face of these con-
ditions2 A greater stampede this year
than ever! The stockman is leaving the
Wyoming grass behind and going where
he will get protection for his property.
II II uCluo Mtit pGluR lOICcu W mONt
on account of the agricultural settlement
and development of the country, there
would be no serious cause Of alarm, but
unfortunately this is not the case-it is
simply a move out, with nothing taking
their place.
Its all very well for our visionary theo-
rists to tell us what this country can be
made by the development OF irrigation,
iron, coal, soda, gold and silver mines.
but which of these, with the exception of
coal land railroads only are benefited by
them has been the source of any revenue
to its promotion or benefit to the state,
and a great deal of money has been spent
trying to develop these enterprises. In
irrigation | suppose more money has
been spent than any of the others, and |
would Ike to ask any of your numerous
irrigation enterprise has proved to be a
financial success to It's promoters. OF
course some expect it will come In time,
and | am inclined to think so too, but
"oM w 'hcSu u|hpIouucti'c SutcI pIises
which take. a long tune and a great deal
OF money to develop going to subslst till
that time comes! Meanwhile, the in
dustry which is keeping the machine NOV
ing Is leaving the state,
Here we are with our 6O.OOC people
trying to keep up the pomp OF statehood
with the additional expenses of state