The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-05
Most Valuable Grazing Privilege In
the West.
UINTAH GRASS LEASE
CONTEST FOR CONTROL OF
675, 900 ACRES.
Spirited Competition Between Sheep
men and Cattlemen-Rsservation
Officials and Stoclsmen Now In
the City-Strawberry Cattle Com
pany's Lease Expired Sept /.

There is likely to be some strong COM
petition among sheep and cattlemen to
secure lease of the grazing privileges
Of the Uintah reservation The lease
held by the Strawberry Valley Cattle
company expired Sept. 1. and there are
many stockmen who will bid for the
new lease.
Several of them are here now 10 see
Agent Myton and Indian Inspector
Nesler. who will make recommenda-
tons to the bureau of Indian affairs
at Washington concerning the disposal
of the privilege. These two gentlemen
have been very busy since their arrival
considering the question of recommend
ing a subdivision of the grazing lands
and several leases instead Of one. They
have not yet arrived at a definite con-
clusion.
A Valuable Monopoly.
The privilege of grazing on these
lands is one of Importance. for they
make probably the best summer an6
winter ranges in the STAGE In fact
there is no other tract of country so
large that can be secured for exclusive
use Stockmen didn't realize it's value
until they had seen what the Straw
berry Valley Cattle company did with
1t. But there is much difference CT
opinion about the use TO which the
lands should be put Mr. Nesler has not
yet decided whether to recommend that
sheepmen have the land or cattiemen.
Sheep owners insist that the sheep will
be of much benefit to the grass. and
that it will grow better and stronger
with them feeding on it. The cattle
men. however. insist that sheep viii
destroy the range. that they will eat
the grass and then the roots.
A Big Range.
The range covers 675.006 acres, nearly
thirty towns hips. 1t has a winter range
and a summer range. Up to six years
ago it had never been leased, but money
had been collected from stockmen when
they trespassed. The Strawberry Val
ley Cattle company secured a five-year
lease more than six years ago, and
then got an extension for fifteen
months During this time they paid
the government at the rate of s., 100 per
annum.
Preston Nutter of the company, who
is at the Cullen, said last night that
the summer range would feed A'out
20, 600 head OF cattle. and the winter
600 head. There were gradationS in
these numbers during the fall and
spring. He did not permit sheep To
Craze on the lands. and those owners
who fed their sheep on il were tres
passers, from whom payment was col
lee-e6-
Since the expiration of the lease the
tresoass money is collected from stock
men who are now using the range, and
that will be the system followed until
April l, when the new lease or leases
will be made. The bids for the range
will be sent to the bureau of Indian af-
fairs and the contracts awarded in the
early spring.
Agent MytOn and Inspector Nesler are
in doubt as TO whether they should rec
that the range be divided up
and let to several different parties. or
to one concern. and as to whether or
not the land should be leased TO sheep
men. 1t is likely that they will ,B.com-
mend that more than $7.100 be asked
from the lessees. and if there is spirited
bidding for the privilege. the price Sc
cured may run over that amount