Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-04-13

The Colorado Legislature enacted
several laws of interest to farmer.
and stock men. They are US follows:
By Senator Ammons-Prohibitin
the placing Of wire braces to any tele
graph. telephone or other post ovei
any part of the right of way for pub
lie roads at less height than fifteen
feet from the ground.
By Senator Evans-Restricting the
capacity Of reservoirs to be construct.
ed In the future and placing those nj.
ready constructed under state super.
vision.
By Senator Felton-Amending the
act concerning horticulture" and de-
hnlng the duties of the county horti-
cultural inspector in instituting prose-
cutions under the act.
By Mr.. Tlrney-Appropr!ate $4,000
for the payment of bounties on wolves,
coyotes and mountain lions during
ls99 and 1900. Passed by both houses.
Another important measure which
became law Is III. b. No. 95 (Turney)
relating to the branding of cattle and
horses. While the title may convey
little Idea that the bill Is intended to
Increase the revenue OF the state, the
bill. in reality, will enrich tile public
cOners to the extent OF several thou
sand dollars annually. One of Its prln-
clpal provisions Is that tax OF 81
shall be paid annually for each brand
used in the state. As there are not
less than 5000 Of these on the brand
book 1t Is safe to estimate that the I'D
ditional revenue will be little less than
5000, and possibly more. or this
amount, 10 per cent. is allowed the sec
retary Of state for his services in en-
fnrpinD Tf ha tp~
To stockmen the Turney bill is the
assembly, unless 1t be the Taylor bill,
which also became law III.
b.; No. 95 requires the secretary of
state to declareacoid NIL brands on his
book which have not been claimed
January l, 1900 He must also prepare
n new book. in which are to be re-
corded all taxetl brands. Thus the hun
-dreds Of dead brands. as they are
called, will be accessible for active cat
tie raising firms. For several years
the books Of the secretary have been
burdened with these Dr;lnus. Iney
could not be used by others than the
parties recording them originally, and
AS consequence the stock OF mono
grams became exhausted. New de-
signs Of cumbersome form Were sub
stituted for the dead brands.
The bill provides for the publication
of the state brand book. in n suitable
substantial binding. within thirty days
nfter July 1st of each year, a copy OF
which is 10 be forwarded free of
charge to every county clerk In the
state. to be used rs reference books
for the use Of the general public.
Secretary OF State Beciwith is an
tIcipating lively time next month. as
n result OF the enactment of the Tur-
ney law. II requires him to mail to
every owner OF recorded brand a
personal letter informing such owner
of the existence of the new law and
Its requirements. In SO doing the Sec
Rotary VIII mail not less than 5000
letters.
One clause OF this piii permits trans
fer OF brands as other personal prop.
erty, allowing them TO he sold or traded
or given away. such transfers being
recorded along with the brands. In
order to record II brand, the owner or
owner must prepare fac
simile OF the brand which he desires
to use, and must forward 1t to the Sec
retary of state. with n sworn state
ment that he desires to make use OF
that particular design as his brand.
II 81 In cash accompanies this state
owners OF brands to pay n like
amount each year while making use
OF them, and one years delinquency
causes forfeiture. the brands being
declared forfeited and being sold to
some other persons upon the payment
Of the taxes due.
Senator Taylor's stock bill. which
nlso was approved, requires that
bulls must accompany cows on
the public range nt n ratio of one to
twenty-five. and that they must he OF
n high grade and not poorer than half
breeds. No Jersey. Mexican. Choctaw
or other inferior bulls are permitted TO
run at large. However. the act does
not apply to the owners OF less than
twenty cows. 1t also prohibits horse
men from allowing inferior stations to
roam on the range.