Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-11-20
LEwIsTowN, MONT, Nov. -, 1901
LEASING or GOVERNMENT LANDS.

As the date for holding the annual
meeting of the National Live Stock
association approaches it is stated that
one of the subjects of discussion will be
the leasing of government lands for
grazing purposes,
In order to strengthen their position
in this demand those interested are
sounding the alarm of Il failing beef
supply. From Chicago ONE the re-
port hat the supply Of cattle is bccom-
ing 50 short that the poorer people will
have TO forcgo beefSteak for horsestcalt
or adopt a vegetarian diet unless some
thing i done turelicvc the market. At
Denver members of the Live Stock AS
ISOLATION are advised that range cattle
are fast becoming extinct aud that the
cattle raised on the farms and ranches
are not sufficient in number To supply
the demand" But the most striking
and absurd proposition is contained in
the following: ''The National Live
Stock association will make an effort
TO have congress act in the matter by
passing laws to protect the public
grazing land from settlement by small
farmers who desire to make a home =
= . The pioneers have invaded the rich
grazing prairies and made homes.
They have domcsticated cattle and
crowded the range cattle into small
quarters where some have starved and
others have ruined the small remaining
prairies to such an extent that thou
sands starve TO death annually
What a dreadful tale of woe, ''To
protect the grazing lands from set
tiers is good, especially as the com
plant comes largely from those who
have no intention of residing in the
states in which the lands are located or
spending a dollar more than is neces-
sary to the rounding up and marketing
of their beef. Not one-tenth of the
number Of cattle die Of starvation in
Montana now that were lost by hunger
and cold when absolute reliance was
placed on the open range. Not less
than fifty per cent of the range cattle
of Montana died in the hard winter
of lss6-7.
But the reasons assigned for the
shortage of beef is somewhat amusing
when we consider the cry that has
been raised by the Great Falls Tribune
to the effect that the public land is
rapidly being gobbled up by cattle
barons and land thieves" According
to the above statement the public lands
are being taken up by settlers" Some
one must be wrong.
There is no question but this is the
transition period of the cattle industry
in the west. The day of extensive
ranges is past. Fergus county, for in
stance, has not as many cattle as il
contained fifteen years ago, but it
reached the minimum pointin numbers
two years ago. The last assessment
showed a healthy increase and we be-
lievc this will continue. The bands
will be smaller, but more men having
engaged in the business the increase in
their holdings will swell the grand
total. This is n source of qualification.
Ii is better for all concerned-immeas
urably better for cattle, as no animal
should die for want of food and sufii
cient shelter; it is not humane. 1t is
upon this proposition we have taken
our stand that every owner of stock
should have sufficient land upon which
to raise feed for sustenance. Nothing
should be left to chance. Montana has
seen and suffered enough through re.
lance upon the open range.
There are two strong objections
to government leasing of land. II
would retard settlement and actual
ownership of the lands and render gov
eminent aid ia reclamation by irriga-
tion a very remote possibility. In any
event there is not much danger of con
gress touching this question nor OF
beef cattle becoming extinct.