Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-09-28
WILD HORSES MUST 60.
Cattlemen and sheepmen Monopolis-
ing Water and Pasturage.

ing Water and Pasturage.
Gradually, but surely, the great
herds Of range horses on the interior
plains of Washington, Idaho and Mon
tana are being driven to the wall. Sew
eral causes are working together to
depopulate the bunch grass ranges Of
the vast herds of wild horses that have
hitherto roamed there. Briefly stated,
says the San Francisco Chronicle,
these causes are the increased demand
for irrlgable lands by settlers and the
purchase or lease, followed by fencing,
of great areas Of range lands by cattle
men and sheepmen. The latter are
swiftly fencing in the springs, creeks
and ponds that form the water sources
which are vital to range industry.
These facts denote new era in the de-
velopment of western sheep and cattle
raising, increasing production and put
ting the industry on more solid basis.
1t ends the ndscriminate pasturage
of cattle, sheep and horses over i'm
mense areas of the northwestern states.
1t means the confirming of the cattle
and sheep to lands that can be acquir
|
and the general extinction of the
horses. The latter are being moved off
the ranges by the tens of thousands.
Those left are forced to exc out pre-
carious existence on the dry pasture
lands left by the cattle and sheep herd
ers, where they may die of thirst in
| the summer or starve to death in the
winter, with no one to mourn their
end.
While the cattle and sheep men have
in effect combined against their COM
mon enemy, the range horses it is no
less true that cattlemen look askance
at the steadily increasing numbers Of
sheep pastured in the open range coun-
try. For, while the natural increase of
the bands of sheep is rapid. tens Of
thousands more have been moved to
the northwest from California. The
sheep are profitable from the first year.
since the two principal crops, lambs
and wool, coming in May and June, are
salable within the fiscal year. while the
herds of cattle must be maintained
three or four years before profitable re-
turns are possible. 1t is due to this
fact that cattlemen commenced pur
chasing and fencing the range lands
several years ago, and the sheepmen,
as matter of self protection, have fol-
lowed suit. The need and demands Of
the sheepmen for wider pasturage have
caused the industry and its custom Of
occupying the open ranges to be Off
cially recognized by the United States
government in its measures for polio
ing and protecting the great forestry
reserves recently set apart in Washing
, ton and Oregon. The governments
primary object is to prevent forest
!, fires, which greatly injure the water
sheds. On condition that they use the
utmost precaution to prevent any fires,
the sheepmen are permitted to drive
their bands into the rich pasture lands
on the mountain slopes of these re-
serves. The forest supervisors have
divided the reserves into districts for
the various bands, the limits being
marked by streams, ridges and other
natural boundaries. Several million
sheep will be pastured in the reserves
!, Of Washington alone this summer.
While sheep are high in price the in
dustry will continue to flourish, and in
any event for many years to come i'm
. mense bands OF cattle and sheep will
: no doubt continue to occupy the great
> northwestern ranges.