The record-union., 1898-01-27
Sentiment in Favor Of the States Owning
the Arid Lands.
Money Received From the Sale of
Public Lands Largely Used in
States Other Than Those in
Which the Lands Are Situated,
to the Advantage Of the Older
and at the Expense of the
Younger States.

DENVER (Col.), Jan. 26.-Chairman
Springer called the National Stock
Growers convention to order at ~
o'clock this morning There was full
attendance of delegates. A committee
was chosen Of one from each State rep
resented to draft constitution and by
laws. Those chosen were:
Texas, NJ. Mckenzie; Kansas, J. w.
Johnson; Idaho, j. D. Wood; Oregon,
b. c. Judson; Utah, Jesse a. Smith;
Missouri, ]. H. Neff; Nebraska, A. +.
Daugheity; Michigan, H. II. Kinds:
South Dakota, f. A. Stewart; Montana,
Paul Mccormack; Wyoming. W. c. Irv-
ing; Iowa, Henry Wallace; Illinois, (.
w. Baker; Arizona, w. c. Barnes; III
diana, NJ. E. Harley; Minnesota, Cen
eral NJ. D. Flower; Colorado, E. A. AM
mons.
The first address was on statistics
as to Values of Livestock and Prospec-
tive Conditions" by j. II. Neff, editor
of the "Drovers' Telegram" Kansas
City. The speaker reviewed the his
tory of the stockgrowers' business for
the past fifteen years, showing that the
industry, which was on the down grade
IOI "a HulilJSI VI IGdtlleo DOttoDi
a couple of years ago and has since been
improving. Figures were given to show
that prices are now more than 200 per
cent. above the lowest point of a few
years ago.
He expressed the fear that stocking
and feeding cattle are now bringing
more money than they will bring in the
market when fattened. What is true
of cattle, he asserted, is also true Of
sheep horses and hogs. Comparing
the stock industry with that of mining,
he said if the silver men had Teller,
Jones and Stewart at Washington, the
stock growers had Dingley, Grosvenor
and Mckinley.
He spoke optimistically upon the
probable effect of the Dingley bill, and
especially on the sheep industry. He
closed with q prediction Of prosperity
for the future.
Governor w. A Richards of Wyoming
next spoke on THE Cession of the Arid
Public Lands TO the States
Governor Richards took the position
that not only the arid lands, but all the
public lands, should be given to the
States. They would then, he claimed.
soon be put in the hands of actual SET
tiers. Speaking of the arid lands, he
said:
Il have come to the conclusion that
there is only one way for US to work
out cur salvation, and that is through
the transfer of the lands to the several
States, and then make it a matter OF
patriotism or State pride to make the
most possible Of the donation The
Nj,i ic1,
urged is not based on facts, but on the
belief that the States themselves are
not to be trusted. Those who as
sumed this position also assume that
the administration of the national land
office is efficient and satisfactory. ]
believe they are as mistaken in their
belief regarding the first as they are
erroneous concerning the facts of the
second. The truth is, that the admin
istration of the General Land Office in
the disposal of arid lands and in lis
neglect to do anything for the conserva-
ton of the water had been an unmiti-
gated failure. Two bills for the ces-
sion of the lands have been introduced
in the present Congress. one by Con-
gresham Shafroth of Colorado and one
by Congressman Hartman of Montana
The present Commissioner Of the Cen
eral Land Office opposed both these
bills, and if his reports are any indica :
ton. Will oppose any measure provid-
ing for the transfer of these lands 10
the States"
Governor Richards said the money re-
ceived from the sale of public lands had
been very largely used in States other
than those in which the lands We're sit
uated, to the advantage of the older
at the expense Of the younger States
Continuing. he said: Every arid
State ought to control its timber lands.
The States now control the streams
which rise therein; they ought to be
given the opportunity to protect and
preserve the fountains which feed these
streams. If we are to judge the fu-
ture by the past, the continued control
of the timber land by the general Gov
ernment means the eontinu ton of their
spoliation and destruction. Every re-
serve thus far made has simply resulted
in stopping mining, preventing the con-
struction Of roads. the building of res
ervoirs or bitches. in laying an en-
barge on all development and in doing
nothing whatever to protect the fores ts
from fire, the chief agent of their de-
struction.
IF it is the desire Of the arid States
to secure a class of settlers who will
engage in agriculture. it is necessary
that State aid in some form should be
afforded them. Reservoirs should pe
constructed and maintained by the
State and the waters distributed under
State supervisors.
THAT the leasing of these lands
would follow the cession of the public
lands to the States recent experience
of Wyoming has demonstrated. In
satisfaction Of the donations Of land 10
the State upon this admission to the
Union. grazing lands have been prin-
clpally selected. Every acre has been
leased at an annual rental of 3 cents
per acre
Elwood Mead. State Engineer of wy
oming. spoke on How Best to Prevent
Clashing Between Sheep and Cattle
Men on the Range" He favored leas-
ing of all public lands and breaking IN
of ranges as means of preventine
constant warfare between cattle men
and sheep men.
r. NJ. Allen Of Ames, Nebryaska, de-