Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-10
CONFLICTS on THE GREAT PLAINS.
~truge of the sheepmen and the
CnttIcmen for supremacy
Nsau, VnrL sun

NtM lblh gun
The longs anding feud between the cattle
men and the sheepmen OF the range states
still manifests itself now and then In the
wanton destruction OF property. The latest
example is the killing by masked cowboy
in wyoming OF $50 sheep and the woundins
Of nearly 100 more. The most des ruotive
outrage OF this sort occurred in 1894
when 1000 sheep were stampeded by
COWBOYS and driven over the perpendicular
wall of a canyon in Colorado, 1000 feet high,
killing them all. The cowboys loosely re-
marked that they had caused a greater fall
in wool than any reduction OF duties In inc
wool schedule.
The cattlemen we're the first to occupy
these public grazing lands and they re-
sented the coming Of the sheepmen as an
intrusion. They had no rights there that
others could not claim, and the sheepmen'
finding that the nutritive grasses and dry'
pure air Of the plains we're as favorable for
sheep as for cattle raising, insisted upon
sharing the ranges. The resulting bitter
mess has brought about much destruction oil
property and some loss OF human life.
The fact is that sheep can always com
pete successfully with cattle in grazing on
the same ground; they And food where
cattle have just grazed; but, on the other
hand, they crop the grass so closely that
there is no fodder left for cattle coming
after them. In very large districts, there
fore, sheep have gradually replaced cattle
The plains have been over-grazed and sheer
have been ~crowding cattle out. tn result
is a large diminution Of cattle In some OF the
range states. In Wyoming, for example, the
number of cattle in 1898 was only a little
over half that of the years between 1856 and
1892.
1t is easy to see how this conflict OF In
~terests has been Intensified by years OF
fierce competition for the use OF the public
lands. The trouble would be remedied II
the great stock-raising companies might
buy large blocks of land at very low
figures; but the homestead law prevents
the disposal of any public lands in this way,
One remedy proposed is to lease the lands
to the companies. and it DIS asserted thai
under leases the warfare would cease and
each lessee would have every incentive to
| maintain his land in the most productive
condition.
The lease system certainly works very
we'll where it has been tried. Texas, by Tar
the largest cattle-growing state and fourth
on the list of sheep states, owns all the
public lands within her borders and leasef
the range territory to stock growers. Each
company knows the extent OF its territorial
rights, is protected in them by the state
laws, and the result is that nearly 5000,
900 beef cattle and $500, 900 sheep Craze
without conflict in that state and add largely
to the national wealth. The grass lands o,
the Northern Pacific railroad became al
most unproductive through over-grazine
untif the lands were leased, with advanta-
geous results both to the railroad and stock
growers. The range stock OF Australia, one
Of the greatest cattle and sheep growing
parts Of the world, is raised on lands LEASED
by the various governments.
Our arid regions comprise about a thirt
Of the entire country. Nearly three-fourth
of this vast domain is useful for pasturage
The utilization of this territory in such 6
way as to confer the largest benefit upor
the country, do justice to stock growers ant
end the disgraceful conflict among them ha!
become a question of great Importance ant
public interest.