Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-09-26
WILD HORSES MUST GO.
cArrLEMEN AND sHEEPMEN noNoPo-
LIzING WATER AND PAsTURAGE.

Gradually, but surely, the great herds
Of range horses on the interior plains OF
Washington, Idaho and Montana are be-
ing driven TO the wall. Several 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 irrigabie lands by
settlers and the purchase or lease, fol-
lowed by fencing OF great areas OF range
lands by cattlemeu and sheepmen. The
latter are swiftly fencing In the springs,
creeks and ponds that form the water
sources which are vital to range In
dustry.
These facts denote = new era Ia the
development OF western sheep and cat
tie raising, Increasing production and
putting the industry on . more solid
basis. 1t ends the indiscriminate pastur-
age Of cattle, sheep and horses over Inn
mense areas Of the northwestern states.
IL means the combining OF the cattle and
sheep to lands that can be acquired,
fenced and made more productive, and
the general extinction OF horses.
The latter are being moved of the
ranges by the tens OF thousands. Those
left are forced to exc out precartous
existence on the dry pasture lands left
by the cattle and sheep herders, where
they may die of thirst in the summer or
starve to death In the winter, with no
one TO mourn their end.
~ sh hn a
In effect combined against their common
enemy, the range horses, II 10 no less
true that cattlemen look askance at the
steadily Increasing numbers OF sheep
pastured In the open range country.
For, while the natural Increase OF the
bands OF sheep 10 rapid, tens Of thousands
more have moved to the northwest from
California. The sheep are profitable
from the first year, since the two prin-
cipal crops. lambs and wool, coming In
May and June, are sslable within the
tiscal year, while the herds Of cattle
must be maintained three or four years
before profitable returns are possible.
Il Il due TO this fact that cattlemen
commenced purchasing and fencing the
range lands several years ago, and the
sheepmen, ~ matter Of self protection,
have followed suit.
The need and demands Of the sheep
men for wider pssturage have caused the
Industry and its custom Of occupying
the open ranges to be officially recog-
nixed by the United States government
iu It's measures for policing and pro-
tecting the great forestry reserves re-
Gently set apart in Washington and
Oregon. The governments primary OBJ
ject 10 to prevent forest fires, which
greatly injure the watersheds. On con-
dition that they use the utmost precau-
tion TO prevent any fires, the sheepmen
are permitted to drive their bands into
rich pasture lands on the mountain
slopes of these reserves. The forest
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 re-
serves OF Washington alone this sum-
mer. While sheep are high In price the
industry will continue to flourish, and In
any event for many years to come In
mcnse bands OF cattle and sheep will no
doubt continue to occupy the great
ranges.--Exchange.