, 1900-02-13
THE LEASING QUESTION.
A Casper Man Writes His Views on
the Subject.

There seems to be considerable dis
c~ussion over the land leasing PROPOSE
ton. Well it is a good thing to talk,
write and exchange ideas for ii Is thus
that the best conclusions are reached.
| was beset on several sides for re-
fusing to sign a petition that is being
circulated throughout the country. AL
SO laughed at when ! made the state
ment hat there was no such bill be-
fore congress as one asking the cession
of arid lands TO the state. and in order
to justify my statement / simply ask
those interested to read Congressman
Mondell's bill and they will see that
Sec. 2 says in part. That the title of
the land shall remain with the United
States as part of the public domain,
subject to entry under any of the laws
now in force applicable to such lands,
and subject to rights of way for any
and all purposes to which the public
lands are now subject.
But l can readily see how. those in
clined to a nomsdic life are opposed
to leasing land or home building of
any kind, as fresh pasture is good for
lambs and when one place becomes
eaten off they can move to another,
but with the ranchmen it is different.
He is a fixture, and If a herd of stock
comes around him and eats off the
feed near by he is done. And the op-
portunity to lease a little land is today
his greatest blessing and the only
thing under heaven that has enabled
him to stay and build a home for his
family. 1t is true that the sheep bust
ness is a great industry and that the
man with a herder, wagon and dog,
make good money but they leave the
country Just as they found it, no i'm
provement. no development, I have
many true friends among the signers
of that petition, but they know that
it never was the mission Of true friend
ship to stifle an opinion. So please do
not think that there is no business in
the country only the sheep business
and please do not tell people that sheep
men pay all the taxes. Did you ever
hear of paying taxes on wool? Yet
the naked sheep is worth almost dou-
BILE the assessed valuation. The cattle
business under the land leasing sys-
TEN is on a very marked increase and
every year sees more crops raised which
adds to the convenience of all and de-
velopment of the ranch. 1t seems to be
an enigma to some what has become of
the money already collected from land
leased as their taxes do not get any
less. So far, it has gone to the COM
mon schools, to charitable institutions,
and to the state university. So you
can see that it has indirectly lightened
the burden of taxation, protected the
stationary home against the invasion
of nomadic herds, avoided Unpleasant
and shameful wars like those occurring
in other places, and enabled us all to
obtain for our children the greatest of
boons, a university education. 'To
make a long story short" l I'm not
feminist the government" | have
faith in the wisdom OF our legislators.
| am satisfied with our representation
at Washington. l believe. they will
represent us on broad, liberal lines as
heretofore. So get ready for the in
evitable. The open range will SCOT be
a thing of the past. The apportion-
ment of land follows closely on the
heels Of civilization.
], w, PRICE.