Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-03-30
SHEEP AND CATTLE CONFLICT
Western Range Situation Most Deli
cate and Trouble Is Feared.

Reports from western Colorado indl-
cate an approaching conflict between
cattle and sheep on the range, for a
number Of years. through the aid OF
strict enforcement Of the sanitary laws,
sheep from the west have been kept
back out OF Colorado without much DIFF
ficulty, but the present board OF vet
Urinary sanitary commissioners, In their
anxiety to get all the fees possible,
have admitted large number OF sheep
TO the western slope countries, num-
Der variously estimated at from 10000
10 10000 head says the Denver Record
Stockman These sheep Were brought
In. 1t is alleged, for the purpose of feed
ing, but now that the winter is over
those who brought them In are making
preparations to turn them out on the
range, The cattlemen are seriously
alarmed and are determined to fight
The unpleasant part Of the trouble Is
that the cattlemen have determined to
draw no distinction but to fight all
sheep impartlally, no matter where they
run or who owns them. This has re-
suited In actual hardship In some in
stances, notably that Of r. d. Clark
who has been running sheep in Gunnl-
son county for some years. Mr. Clark
has been notified that his sheep cannot
go on the range this year. and he Is
consulting With committee Of cattle
men 20 see what can be done II is re-
ported that In order 20 be fair, the cat
tlemen have offered 90 buy Mr.. Clark's
sheep with the intention of shipping
them from the state.
While the determination Of cattlemen
to keep sheep out Of the State by force
Is condemned In some sections, IL Is
really a matter Of life or death to the
cattle Industry Of western Colorado
If the sheep could range with the cat
tie there would be no trouble. but when
the sheep come In the cattle must go.
The cattle were there first and nine out
of every ten settlers I'm western Colora-
do depend upon the open range TO give
them support II the sheep are allowed
TO come in, the Cattlemen will simply
have TO move out and their work Of
past years will go for naught. Legally,
the sheep have as much right on the
range as cattle. Morally. they should
be kept out.
AS a sample Of how the eastern peo-
pie. who do not understand the situa-
ton. look at the matter, the following
editorial from the Chicago DrOver's
Journal is a fair illustrations:
Some Of the best informed stock
men Of the West are Of the opinion that
the strife between cattle raisers and
sheepmen viii never be satisfactorily
settled as long as there Is open range
10 be the bone Of contention Invaria-
bly, the sheepmen, or rather the sheep.
get the worst Of It, Some Of the em-
ployes OF the cattle companies have a
way Of charging flock of sheep,
driving them over a preolpioe or slaugh-
terlng them with six-shooters. This
has happened several times IN Colorado.
Wyoming and Montana during the past
year In the face OF the fact that the
sheepmen has as much right to the dis
puted territory as his. prosecutors.
There seems to be law against rust.
ling" which is enforced. but might Is
still right with some Of the cattlemen.
There should be some way OF giving
these sheep killers dose Of their own