Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-06-01
FIGHT OVER SHEEP RANGE.
Grievances Of The Farmers and Ranchers That
Led 10 the Difficulty,
Futile Efforts Made TO Compromise
DiHerenees-Peopie's wishes Ig-
nored by sheepmep.
Special Correspondence.

Speclal correspondence.
Auburn, Ulnta Co., Wyoming, May o.
In your issue of May 20 appears an
editorial, commenting on the situation
that exists between the sheep and cat
temen in Star valley, which all fair
minded men will acknowledge is good
advice, given from the information you
had received And as you solicited in
formation from some one who was in
terested in the matter, | take this OPP
portunity Of stating few facts.
our cattle range is very limited in
Star valley, there being none to speak
Of on the east side Of the valley. and
we depend almost wholly on the west
side for range, The sheep have been
gradually taking the range for num-
Der Of years, and our stock has been
crowded down against our fields. But
We endured It, although our stock was
too poor for the market In the fall. Last
year Mr.. Coyey came into this valley
with, think, 20 900 sheep. and put them
close to our fields, taking the place Of
our cows, Our cattle scattered, and
roamed about for feed, and we finally
had to put them In our fields, even be-
fore some Of our crops were out. The
fields did not furnish enough feed to
last until winter and we had TO COM
mence feeding early. Owing 10 this,
and the hay crop being little short,
our hay was all gone before spring.
The result was we had 60 hustle to keep
our cattle and horses alive. There was
plenty OF bare ground In Star valley to
put them on, but no feed, therefore we
had TO take them to other valleys. We
succeeded, however In getting most OF
them home, but some were on the lift
for some time after. This. In connec-
tlon with other hardships that occurred
from the effects Of the Entertainments
Of sheep, showed us plainly that some-
thing had TO be done. We therefore APP
pointed a meeting for all the sheep and
cattle men of Star valley 10 try and
effect compromise. This meeting was
held, and a committee was appointed
to divide the range. all agreeing 20 sus-
tain the action OF the committee, both
parties being united. Hyde Brothers
were represented in this meeting by the
president OF that company. They fell
in line, and on their return TO Cokevllle
acquainted Mr.. Convey OF the proceed
ings OF that meeting, and that he (Mr.
Covey) would not be likely TO get the
Landing ground he had last year. Mr..
Covey proceeded 10 come all the same,
and not with his 10000 only, but 10000
sheep. on his arrival in the valley. one
Of the committee met and acquainted
him again OF the action that had been
taken, by the peonle OF the valley. II
was there decided that this member Of
the committee should notify the rest Of
the committee, and that Mr.. Covey
should notify the flockmasters that
were on the way In. and that they
should meet at Mr.. Covey's sheanng
pen next morning. The appointment
was filled promptly by the Star valley
committee. but the Covey men through
press OF business had failed to notify
others. County Commissioner II. ID.
Clark was invited 10 attend this meet
ing. which he gladly accepted. We then
laid the situation before Mr.. Convey. re-
lating the hardshlps the people had
passed through, stating also II he was
10 occupy the range he had last year,
our stock would many OF them die even
now. We told him We would like 20
effect compromise. II we possibly
could, and asked him II he would not
make a proposition. But he declined.
stating that he would like the mind of
other sheep owners on the subject SO
we took another ride OF fifteen miles,
making about 25 mile ride from home,
taking Mr.. Convey along. but the trip
was unsuccessful The next thing 10
do was 10 return home, reaching there
al one or two o'clock In the morning
dlsheartened. range gone, no milk, no
butter poor stock. homes deprecated,
all 10 crafty the desires OF one or two
individuals. As the lawmakers have
been unable TO draw line principle
and reason. Justice and equity suggest
ed that there should be little corner
that we should cali our own. Next
morning despite all our pleadines, the
f,ocks made their appearance on forbid
den ground. 1t was then that Commits
sioner Clark in behalf OF suffering hu-
man,ty. saddled his horse. and rode an
other ten miles 10 the same old sheep
men. and after exhausting all his reas-
onIng powers 10 no avail. appealed 10
their sympathy and rode away, leaving