Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-12-21
THE COW

THE COW COUNTIES.
The Red River Valley has gal ned a
wo rid. wide reputation for the fertility Of
it's soil and the splendid quality of wheat
it produces. The western part of the
state is fast gaining an equally enviable
reputation as a grazing country in which
to tatten cattle. It will never be pop
ular as a breeding ground" but for the
excellent quality of grass it grows, when
taken in connection with the splendid
climate of North Dakota, makes it a
most desirable place where cattle can be
prepared for market, and each year we
see a large increase in the number of fat
cattle shipped to market from this sec
ton of the state.
The fattening of cattle on a large scale
can be carried on most proftably where
cattle are allowed to range at large, or
where very large pastures can be fenced
in for their use. It would seem from
this that the laws necessary for the pro-
lection of crops in the Red River Valley
against stock running at large, neces-
sarily ought to be different than the laws
governing in that part of the state where
the running at large of stock is neces-
sarily for the best interests of the coun-
try. There seems to be a natural an.
tagonism between the stock mans in
terest and the wheat growers interest in
the state which ought not to exist. Both
have their legitimate Industries, and both
have their proper territorial limits in the
state, and both should contribute to the
support of the state and the government.
A majority of the cattle interest is car
ried on in territory belonging to unor-
ganized counties.
We hear a great deal of complaint
about the stock men paying no taxes.
On the other hand, the stock men COM
plain that they are compelled to pay ex-
brilliantly for what benefits they receive
from state legislation. The Bismarck
TRIBUNE believes that the stock men of
the western part of the state should be
given privileges in the nature of local
option, by which they might regulate the
question Of their cattle running at large,
and that, too, in a different manner than
would be best in the Red River Valley.
We believe in each industry paying its
just and proportionate part of the taxes
of the state, and that the true and only
proper way to assess property in unor-
ganized counties is to have it assessed in
the same manne than the railroad prop.
erty of the state, not now paying taxes
under the gross earnings system, is as.
sessed. The unorganized territory should
not be attached to any county for as
sessment purposes, but a separate and
independent method should be adopted
by the legislature this winter, providing
for the assessment of all property in I'M
organized counties, and its collection by
state authority, the taxes TO be paid into
the state revenue, except such of it as
may be necessary to pay the expenses of
assessment and collection of taxes, and,
in addition to that, the expenses in
Cured II the prosecution of any offense
committed in unorganized territory.
AS long as the laws on our statute
books stand as they are, a dozen men can
go into the unorganized counties of Nc
Kenzie or Dunn and practically break
up the range system for cattle by
squatting upon land never intended for
agricultural purposes. and bringing suits
against cattle men for trespass. We be-
lleve that the counties of Mckenzie,
Dunn, Williams, Hettinger and Bowman
were as much intended by nature for the
raising and fattening of range cattle as
the Red River Valley was for wheat, oats
and barley, and we believe that such
laws should be adopted as will protect
that interest in this part of the state in
some manner, and as clearly as the laws
now protect the wheat grower of the
Red River Valley. The northern part of
Burleigh county, and from there to the
Canadian line, is practically the same
kind of country, and with proper laws
the cattle industry would thrive and
prosper to such an extent so that North
Dakota would IN a few years have a rep
utation as n of the best cattle coun-
tries in the northwest.
The columns of the TRIBUNE are open,
and we invite correspondence from any
and all persons who can solve the prob
lem of how best to legislate in such a
manner as that our laws will be most
beneficial to the interest of both of these
Industries, as we'll as for the general
good of the people.
r. N. STEVENS.
LIFE INSURANCE REFORM.
Here's some good, sound sense from