The morning call., 1892-09-27
ALL FOR THE APACHES.
They Own Grass That Cattle
Are Starving. For.
But UNCLE SAM PETS THEM
He Will Not Let Whits Men Turn Their Lean
Kline Into the Fat Pasturage OF Gen.
trail Arizona.

"The outlook is gloomy. very gloomy 10,
the cattle interests in Arizona this seaoon'
said Michael Gray 10 GALL IeP0i''i ~
the Palace Hotel last evening
Nr CRAY /. the owner of an extensive
range at old Fort Rucker. in the Chirlca-
bua Mountains, in Cochise County, on
which he has 5000 cattle.
His mission 10 California Is to secure, II
nossible. range for about 5000 cattle.
which he is compelled to remove owing to
the extreme scarcity Of grass and water in
that territory.
Never in the history Of Arizona has 1t
been visited by such q drought as at
present." said he.
Cattle are dying by the hundreds along
the San Pedro, and it is question OF but
few weeks when the deaths will be num-
bered by thousands.
$50 far the great ranges In the San Simon
and Sulpher Spring valleys have furnished
sufficient food and water for the countless
herds inhabiting them, but the water is fast
drying up, and FEED Will be all gone In
short time.
"What will become OF the cattle then the
Lord only knows. Some large owners have
secured ranges in California for the season,
but this resource flnd since my arrival IS
very limited.
al have made inquiries In all directions :;
interviewed parties from all sections OF the
State, and up to date have not been able to
secure enough pasture for fraction OF the
stock. must get out of the Territory, or
see them perish.
large proportion of Arizona cattle this year.
"0ur rainy season has passed, ana we
can expect but occasional showers for an
other year Added TO this is the fact that
many owners, owing to the extremely low
price of beef, have carried their herds oveG
this season. which about doubles the num-
ber Of cattle in the Territory.
Prime beef goes begging now In Cailtor-
mia and Kansas at AZ cents pound. These
choice with the cattle-raiSer whether ne
are starvation prices, and 1t Is Hobsons
sells at this figure or watches his nerds
starye to death for lack Of food
"As | said before" continued Colonel
Gray, I'VE cannot expect rain at this season,
and unless there is some prOyidentlal inter-
yention the valleys of the San Simon aud
Sulphur Springs will be whitened with the
bones Of thousands Of cattle before the
snow flies
1--WE could find instant relief II the Gov
ernment would permit US - turn our herds
on the White Mountain ludian Teserya-
tiOn.
There is a section embracing an area Of
at least $4,000 square miles. upon which
there is not ut present a single hoof Tor
each square mile. 1t is a splendid grass
country, and we'll watered Right now the
grass stands girth high 10 horse.
This immense area, located In the very
heart of the Territory, has been set apart
for the thieying. cutthroat Apache, who
has no use for more than ten square miles
of it, as be Is fed by the Government.
could the eattlemen use 1t but for this
season 1t would prove a perfect godsend to
them and prevent loss to the Territory OF
at least million dollars.
Petition after petition has been sent in
by the cattemen to the Government asking
that the reservation be opened for the pres
ent season alone aud prOffering any asked
guaranty to quit the reservation when the
rains set in next season, but TO all entTeaties
the authorities have 80 far turned deaf
ear.
The cattemen are OF course incensed.
but what can they do?
"If they drive their herds upon the reser-
vatiop without permission they will come
in conflict with the military, and in the
meantime must see their property destroyed
without any chance TO save it,
tt1t an iEafSsss-.a vutIusp, Sut IL can . TIC
helped so long as Uncle Sam thinks more Of
a cut;hreat Apache than he does of decent
white man"