The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-02-22
PASSING OF THE RusTLER.
he Hustlink Western Character
Nearly a "Reminiscences.

AbsAosAS "SestEsA NtluEnCttF
Nearly a "Reminiscences.
Chamberlain, S. D., Feb. 13.-The re-
lentless warfare of the large cattle o
panies against the cattle .rustlers" has
practically put a stop to the wholesale
stealing In the northwestern portion Of
the state which was so prevalent a few
ear ago on all parts of the range.
The large companies find tina 1t pa.s
which regularly employ detectives to
watch for thieves, and SO vigllant are
these detectives that it is a difficult
matter for rustlers to steal even a single
steer without being ~apprehended and
punished. In case of conviction no mer-
cy Is shown. It is current talk on some
parts of the range that many a man
who today owns a few hundred or even
a few thousand head Of cattle, Increased
his herd from a dozen head to twenty
times that number in a very short time.
and SO many We're in years past impli-
Gated in this wholesale appropriation
that men who got int the tolls Of the
law could call upon some wealthy and
influential friend nearby and request
financial assistance With an assurance
that 1t would not be denied.
Now tnat the large companies have
detectives employed it is difficult for
stockmen owning comparatively small
herds to Increase the number of their
cattle by the same methods which some
Df the now powerful companies We're ac-
customed to resort to during the first
years of their experience in the cattle
raising business. On parts OF the range
where there are still a great many small
~stockinen some complaint Is still heard
of the c~0nfiscation of cattle. AS an in
stance the cattlemen of the White river
region complain that the Medicine creek
stockmeE1 are accustomed when in that
'egion after stray cattle, to drive off, in
addition to their own stock, cattle be-
longing to the White river ranchmen.
White river forms the northern boun-
dairy Of the Rosebud Indian reserya-
ton, upon which cattle belonging to
white stockmen are now permitted to
Craze. 1t frequently happens that cattle
escape from the herders and drift to-
ward White river, and, and il not stop
ped, ford the stream to feed on the lux
uriant grasses growing on the Indian
lands. When stock from the Medicine
creek ranges stray towards White river
the stockmen there have been accus-
toned to hold 1t until the owners or
their herders appear when the cattle
are delivered to them. Therefore when
some of the Medicine creek cattlemen.
in addition to their own stock make a
practice of driving away from one to a
dozen head OF cattle belonging to the
White river stockmen at n time, natur-
ally angers them, and they now
threaten to retaliate by hiding
all stray cattle from the Medicine
creek region that wander to their sec
ton, or permit them 10 cross 10 the
Rosebud reservation, where the Indians
would promptly seize and hold them UNI
til eXorbitant charges for keeping them
We're paid. In some quarters the ques-
ton is being agitated Of securing the
consent of congress to the appointment
of a commission TO negotiate for the
opening to settlement of a strip of the
Rosebud reservation, lying south OF
White river. or to pass a law authoriz-
ing the agent at any Indian agency TO
lease any portion OF the reservation nos
allotted to the Indians. and apply the
proceeds 10 the use and benefit of the
Indians. This, it is argued, would ben
eft the Indian as we'll as the settler.
The stockmen claim tina there are
thousands of acres OF the finest grass
land going to waste every year that
might be leased from the Indians il
there was a law authorizing 1t. AS
matters now are, the grass annually
goes up In smoke, together with the
young timber along the rivers and
creeks.