The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1897-07-15
WOOL Growers PROTEST
Believe the Railroads Should Not Tax
Them for Use Of Grazing Lands.
SHEEPMEN WILL TEST The LEGALITY
Eighly thousand Dollars Paid 10
the Railroad Company In Freight
since Last Pail Quite Enough
Compenss tion, They Argue.

The sheepmen are not in open rebellion
bit they are certainly protesting very
vigorously against the attempt of the
Northern Pacific to coerce them into
paying rental for their odd sections OF
, land over which their flocks Craze. The
sheep man claims that he was invited to
Yakima by the company, which was en-
deavoring to make this a centre for the
sheep industry with view to increasing
, the carrying business of the road, and as
. an incentive for their immigration to this
section the cOmpany's representatives
, dilated upon the vast bodies of unoccu-
pied grazing land which could be secured
the implication being that the range
, might be had for the taking. Now, the
sheepmen assert, having accepted the
invitation, and contributed heavy sum
during the past year in the way of freghts
the company endeavors to extort from
them a rental Tor lands for which they
offer them no protection against preda
tOfy DduuS vi Cditit, UuIses anu iurtlRi
sheep.
That there might he unanimity OF
purpose and action, a call was sent out
for a meeting at the Commercial club
rooms, OF the Yakima Wool Growers as
sociation which WAS organized some time
ago with John Cleman as president; Alex
McAlister, vice president and Samuel J.
Cameron secretary. Thirty-one mem.
bers were present on Saturday afternoon
representing 100000 sheep valued at half
a million dollars. 1t was as weighty a
body as could be found in the county and
every member showed deep concern in
the question discussed The arguments
against submitting to the tax, for so it is
looked upon, were broad and iorcible and
they one and all seemed to think that
the $S0,000 which the railroad received
in frelghts through the shipment of Yak
ina county stock and wool since last
fall, should be satisfactory to the com
pany. With this feeling the following
resolutions were unanimously adopted:
eve, the undersigned, members of the
Yak ina Wool Growers Association OF
Yakima county, Washington, do hereby
bind and obligate ourselves not to rent
any lands from the Northern Pacific Rail
way company, in the county of Yakima,
Washington, for the purpose OF sheep
grazing unless the said Northern Pacific
Railway company, covenants, aud agrees
with the parties leasing by a written con
tract or agreement to keep all range
stock, such as sheep, cpttle, horses, etc.
other than the person leasing said land
off and from the said land 80 leased, dur
and expense OF SAID Northern Pacific
Railway company.
We further bind and oblgate ourselves
not to pay and sum as rental, which shall
exceed the amount OF the annual taxes
paid by said Northern Pacific Railway
company, on the said land so rented, if
any parties to this agreement should rent
lands from the said com pany for said
purposes according to the terms expressed
in this agreement.
We further bind and obligate ourselves
to share pro rata the expenses OF any liti-
CATION that may arise between the said
Northern Pacific Railway company, and
any member who signs this agreement on
account of any of said members in any
| faS IN ho do 20
how far the Northern Pacific Railway
company can compel a sheep man to
rent grazing lands from said Northern
Pacific Railway company.
We hereby further bind and obligate
ourselves to enter into no contract with
the Northern Pacific Railway company
relating to the leasing of lands without
submitting the same for approval to the
president, ce-president and secretary OF
this association, and we further agree one
with another that in the event that any
legal proceedings are instituted by said
Northern Pacific Railway corporation
growing out Of his occupation OF any OF
the lands in the grazing OF sheep, cattle
or horses, or any attempt is made to eject
him from said land that the president,
vice president and secretary of the asso-
citation are hereby appointed a committee
for the purpose of taking such action as
they may deem expedient in the prem
Uses, and of employing such counsel as
they may think best to protect the inter
est of any member OF the association I'M
der such circumstances
(Signed) Daniel O'Connor, 5000 Geo.
Wright Il Sons, $4,000; j. II. Timm-,
300; Chas. McAllister, 1900; Peter Agor !;
II. 2. Simpson, 800; W. II. Peatross, 49,
600; Alex McAllister, 1000; Columbia
Land & Live Stock Co., BOO; James Big
gam, 300; d. q. Goodman, 5000; J. A.
Halstead, 5000; Chas. A. Keen, $500 I;
VIM. Buchholtz, 5000: d. Agor, 5000 !;
Robt. Hamilton, $500; Adolph Carrere,
400; Chas Porter, 200; S. J. Byng.
5000; p. Lsgorce, 1900; Colin Carmich-
ael; Hugh Gray, 5000; Cameron Bros.
5000; J. L. Underwood, 34O0; Vessey &
McRse, IL 600; A NJ. Campbell & Son,
1900; T. Fl. Smith, 1900; John Cleman,
$4,000; Fred Furhman, 1900"
The action OF the association was made