, 1898-12-09
UNIFORM LAWS
NATIONAL STOCK GROWERS AS
ISOLATION ENTERS THE
FIGHT.
Will Labor For Uniform Bounty Laws
throughout the West-Attorney
Ralph Talbot of Denver Drawing
Up a Bill-The Executive Commit
tee%s44,O 0O, 900 Behind Them.

The National Stock Growers associ-
alton entered the fight for uniform
bounty avs Throughout the West with
the determination that insures success.
Not only in Colorado, but in all the
Western states is a protective law
needed. 1t would be of little use in one
state, for the simple reason thai adj
joining states without bounty laws
srcrld contribute largely to the deple-
ton of the bounty fund intended for
foreign soil only. For instance, a per-
son killing coyotes or lions in Colorado
now often take the c-arcasses over the
line into Wyoming, and, by swearing
falsely, secures the bounty offered by
that state. The bill being prepared
by attorney Ralph Talbot has been ap-
proved by each member OF the exe-
cutive committee of the association,
and at the opening of the new year the
legislatures Of the various stock grow
ing states of the West will witness a
fight for new laws. The object is to
have uniform laws, so that rewards
would be alike in each state. A reason.
able bounty is IS for gray wolves, s.
for coyotes and $40 for mountain lions.
The losses to stockmen by ease of
lax laws are startling. In Colorado
the sheep raisers alone lost $500, 900
last year. In addition to this, mountain
lions, wolves and coyotes killed a large
number of calves and colts. In Utah
the sheep raisers lost $500, 900 last rear
and in other Western states the losses
were proportionately heavy. The
stockmen propose to secure the enact
ment of laws offering Dounties for the
destructive animals and for an ap-
preparation by the state to pay the
bounties.
1t is estimated that in Colorado this
year there are 1000, 900 head OF sheep.
valued at $3.50 per head, OF a total OF
S., 900, 900; 1,5O0, 900 head of cattle val
ued at $25 a head, aggregating 1877 $780,
900; $4,000 hogs, valued at $3.50 each.
aggregating 1915, 900; 100000 head Of
horses, valued at $40, aggregating $,-
600, 900. A summary Of the value Of
live stock without protection in the
state, taken from the above estimate, is
$44, 375, 600.
This vast amount Of property is
without protection, while the state re-
cieves taxes on the whole.
Requests for bounty laws have
been ignored, but stockmen propose TO
secure recognition in the legislature.
or use every effort against those who
oppose them.
cit is startling to know how thick
the destructive animals are" said
Charles Martin, secretary Of the s
citation. TT has become q frequent &C.
~currence for gray wolves to enter barn
yards and kill colts or calves. They
breed like rabbits, and while the laws
nave been such for many years that
there was no decided effort at extermi-
49, #H
nation, the states OF Colorado and Utah
have become infested with wolves n
coyotes until they are so thick that
some of them are actually becoming
accustomed to seeing humans A gen
tleman told me OF an incident on mis-
ranch moi long ago, when l was In Une
southern part OF the state, whicn ID sur
prising to those unarquainted with ene
habits OF the WILD animals but l nave
often seen suoh Things. ne "en' Out
n morning and sever large gray
wolves had killed. cali. Wnen ne ap-
peared they were reluctant TO leave
and even than only trotted TO a saae
distance and watched him. The situa-
ton is appalling and something must
be done forthwith
There are other avs the stockmen
will endeavor to have passed tnas SEES
sion. One is for the determination OF
prairie dogs, and for a better law rel
ative to brands. AT present there arc
hundreds o 'dead" brands on recor
at the statehouse and 1t Is aimost I'M
ossible for a stockman to secure amy
kind OF a brand There are hundreds
that have Long since been cas- aside'
but In compliance with present avs
they he Idle and cannot pc USED. TINS
ia ujmnly the result of an OV0rg1Qnt.