Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-15
TROUBLE OVER Tue RANGE.
Old Fcud between Cattle Owners and
Shpepmen freaks Out


Shcepmen Breaks Out.
ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo., Dec. 14.-(Special.)
The never-endng war between the cattle
men OF Routt county Colorado and Wyoming
sheepmen promises to be waged with vigor
during the present season. Grif w. Edwards,
the principal sheep owner of the region in
which the difficulties have occurred has
received recently two threatening letters from
the cattlemen. The first letter advises all
sheep owners to remove their sheep now
ranging in Routt county 10 range outside
the Colorado state line. The. sheep men are
given elk days in which 10 obey the order,
the letter stating: otherwise, we, the cat
tlemcn of Routt county, viii understand that
they do not intend to remove their flocks
and we will govern our acts accordingly.
No attention was paid by Edwards to this
order, and his foreman received the follow
ing notice:
CRAIG, Colo-Al Seger. Ladorc, Colo.
Dear Sir; A $ cattle growers of Routt
county we have investigated the situation
in Browns park and the lower country
and have decided the sheep men must GO
That the state line must be the boundary
line. We hereby kindly request you, as
sheep raisers, to stop Infringement of the
to other grounds We mean business and
should you fail to heed this request you
" CEAIG COMMITTEE.
10 these communications EDWARDS mas re-
piled by letter to the committee. stating that
he has been taxpayer in Routt county for
twenty-five years; that he was the first set
tier to range stock and prove up on ., ranch
in the district he is ordered to leave, and
that these facts entitle him to rights which
he intends to defend. lie further states
that he has never interfered with the stock
or property of any man in ROutt county; that
the cattlemen have for yeats had control of
the Douglas range without interference, and
his sheep have not encroached in any way
upon them in spring. summer or fall, while
in the winter there Is range enough for four
times the number of cattle at present in
the country, regardless of the sheep.
Edwards continues. 81 claim the right to
keep my sheep in Routt county by virtue of
law, of justice, and by the fact that | was
the first settler in the county and that |
have three patented ranches there. 1t is the
cattlemen who are crowdins me not me them.
| have had sheep on the range In the county
for sixteen years. The cattlemen placed
their cattle there, well knowing that fact
Now, to prevent trouble. ! am willing TO
draw line from Hogback valley inclusive
of the valley, taking ir G. of the mountains
to Snake river and all spz,1gs at their base
and | will agree not to put sheep within
that line 1t would be line drawn which
would give them range for years to come.
| have all OF my property, hay, oats and
supplies, in Routt county, There is nowhere
| could move 10 IL wanted to. / have a
right there by every argument known and
while | do not want trouble with men, with
whom ! have always been friendly, yet |
cannot move my outfit. trust to the second
sober thought of the cattlomen to prevent
trouble in this matter"
Edwards has taken no steps to remove his
sheep and will take none. He is prepared to
defend his property and rights. and if the
cattlemen insist on having trouble they will
probably get it.