The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1896-05-16
RAILROADS EXPECT TO GAIN An.
OPTIONAL REVENUE.
talk Of Boycott ON One Road Has
Strengthened Matters Into
Better Shape.

Colfax, Wash, May ia number of
sheepmen who have herds in the western
norton Of the county grazing on the
lands of the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company, have returned from Walla Wal
Ia. where they went to answer sum-
mons OF Judge Aanford. Of the United
States court. 10 show cause why perma-
nent order should not be ISSUED enJoinlng
them from herding their sheep on the
lands in question. The matter mas been |
reported as having grown out Of threat |
ened trouble between the cattle men and |
the sheep men as 10 the use OF the range |
The sheep men deny that this was the |
cause of the action, and claim that the |
matter was instituted by the company |
for tue purpose or forcing the sheep men |
to purchase the lands, or failing in that
to make the sheep and cattle men bid
against each other for che use OF the
grass.
The account of the case, as furnished
The Spokesman-Review correspondent by
several sheep men, is that for several
months the railroad companys officers
have had the matter in mind and have
had agents out looking over the lay OF
the ground and decluing what move to
make.
week or two ago the case was entered
ir court, praying for temporary restrain
ing order, and summoning a number OF
the sheep men to appear It was not
expected that the sheep men would an
swer the summons, ana the attorney for
the company was in Tacoma when the
time came for the appearance. But the
sheep men, by mutual agreement, went
to Walla Walla and employed as their at
torney the attorney of the Union PACING
Railroad Company, Mr.. Wilson. who had
received instructions from the headQuar-
tiers of the Union Pacific freight depart
ment to look after the interests OF the
sheep men, as also being the interests OF
the company, as concerning wool snip
ments. Appearance was entered, ana the
Northern Pacific attorney came over from
Tacoma to arrange matters without 1ur-
Their proceedings. The sheep men onereo
evidence to show that 1t would be lmpos-
sible for them to vacate the lands before
June Is, which time the attorney agreeo
to leave them unmolested. This Will
give them time to shear and get the heros
to the summer mountain ranges. The at
torney then suggested that where sheep
range was wanted, if a man would buy
certain amount Of the land that permis-
sion would be granted to use other pieces
adjoining for grazing purposes. OF -
some of the lands were leased, the othei
lands might be used with them as sneep
range. A number of cattle men were IL
attendance at the court as Witnesses Aof
the company, and to them the attorney
made practically the same offers that no
made the sheep men-to let them nave
all the grass on the range II they Wouiu
buy or lease a certain portion OF the
lands. To keep this grass for them the
company would drive the sheep men OIL
entirely.
Incidentally a bid was made the sneep
men for the business of hauling the WOOL
crop. None Of the lands named were III
the vicinity of the stations along the
Northern Pacific. but they were Largely
tributary to the O. r. & N, hence the
interest of the rival road In the mat.ei.
When the sheep men first came toge.n..
1t was seriously suggested that poS1o''
against shipping over the Northern
cifc be instituted, and that all the WOO.
be shipped over the Union or the 0,ea
Northern. The fear of this action nao
an effect on bringing the ATTORNEY ~
make the terms he did. Another proposI
ton made by the Northern Pacinc Blu.
ney was that the company Wouio feso. -
section Of range near Sprague as iai
az the sheep men thought necessary az
keep sheep off of it until shearlng time
then the company would erect selie
of shearing corals where the sneep niol
might drive into and shear on their ""'
to the mountain range. The grass y.
strip Of country from there through :.
Snake river would also be reserVeo :.
drive through on. Another oHer n."u'