The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-28
Effort to Be Made to Adopt
Regulations.
Government Now Owns Over
25O,OOO,OOO Acres.
SOURCE OF TROUBLE.
Cattlemen in a Constant Quar-
rel Over the Lands.
State Control of the Lands Is
Advocated by Many.
SOURCE OF TROUBLE.

Washington. D. C., Sept. ga strong
effort win be made this winter by those
interested i'm questions affecting the
public domain to secure some legisla-
tion whereby the public grazing lands
can be leased from the government
The United States government now
owns between $500 1000 and 300,00O,00O
acres OF land over which sheep, cattle
and horses are allowed to Craze free
OF charge. The existence of this free
range or common grazing ground has
given rise to many disputes and. bloody
battles between conflicting live stock
interests The range cattle industry
owes its greatness in the past to free
grass but for several years this in
dustry has been passing through
transition stage The established
rancher with land corrals and a hay
stack is rapidly superseding the man
who depends entirely upon the public
lands for the subsistence Of his live
stock
In some localities a code of unwritten
law has been framed which has result
ed in the division of the grazing lands
among a limited number of ranchers,
who have observed an attitude OF
armed neutrality toward each other,
and have Invariably combined to ex-
clude the newcomer looking for new
range OF for a homestead. The most
serious difficulties have arisen from the
antagonism which always has and al
ways viii exist between the cattle and
sheep interests Where sheep have
grazed cattle VIII starve to death, and
the invasion of a cattle ranch by a
flock of sheep IS looked upon as a moral
onense TO be wiped out with blood. if
Many different propositions have been
made 10 congress to enact legislation
whereby the question of free range /
would be settled by the making Of
leases ait nominal sum per acre. No /
one plan has received the united sup /
port OF those interested. hence it has [
been difficult. ia fact impossible, for /
congressman from the eastern states !
TO determine which would best serve /
the interests of the west. The owners /
of large herds of cattle or sheep would /
be very wAiins 10 support a leasing +
law which would not. interfere DuI T
rather perpetuate their present foot +
hold upon Uncle Sans domain These /
men would give hearty recognition to /
a movement which was started in Chi /
cago not long ago by the American (
Cattle Growers association. This as /
ISOLATION proposes that the government 7
shall lease the public grazing lands i'm +
unlimited amounts for term OF 4
twenty years to the highest bidder. 7
Under such a scheme as this bidding /
for any one particular range would BE- (
confined to those already occupying II. F
and it would be very easy for a num- I
Der of large herds to combine and lease T
an entire section Of-lcountry, to the eX-
clusion of small owners. who need com I
parariveIy small pasturage-
The idea of leasing the public grazing /
lands appeals very strongly not only TO (
the big cattle and sheep interests. but /
to the congressman from an eastern 4
state. who is not interested i'm the sub /
iecr except as matter Of public pol i
ley such congressman have been an
pealed to many times by western men 4
to advocate this or that scheme in CON
nection with the public lands. They ara f
familiar with the published reports of f
bloody battles between cattle men and /
sheep men over the public range, and, /
in addition, they see no reason as a
business proposition why the govern
ment should not derive some income
from this immense estate which re
Qulres so much money each year for
its Administered
There are many dangers. however. in
any plan which may be suggested and {
strongly advocated for leasing the pub
lie lands. The live stock interests are
Very powerful i'm legislation They win Z
not only have great weight i'm Wash +
ingtnn. but through their control of
large areas have much to say in Total 4
and state politics ia the district from
which they hail These stock interests
would much prefer that nothing be
done at al than to curtaI IN any way
the rights they have acquired by Gus
tom and mutual agreement. Tt is usual
nowadays 70 defeat a necessary and
popular measure not by opposing it. but
by suggesting some mOdinca ton or
difference in method. thus confusing
the situation and pOstnOning definite
action by congress until the session is
exhausted. The eastern members Of
congress naturally expect the western
members TO agree upon measure BE-
FORE they can seriously consider lit. for
the western members are supposed to
Know best what is to the interest of
their own people and states. 1t would
he very difficult. indeed today to fird !
any live stock man. any land expert. or
any government official who has had
dealings with the public domain who
OF leasing the public grazing lands. but
each and every one of these men has
some plan of his own TO suggest. which.
strange to say. differs sufficiently from
other plans to make an agreement ap-
parently impossible.
A number of western senators and
mem bers of congress are heavily inter-
ested in live stock. They have acquired
valuabl ranches and still more val
liable ranges Their own personal in
terests favor no change. but their posi-
ton before the public demands that
they should present some plan for
ameliorating the condition of the small
rancher and for inaugurating a more
scientific management of the public
commons If western member of
conf reSs is frank he says openly that
he prefers things should remain as they
are, but that If there is going to be a
change ne wants it made in such a
way as not to interfere with the pros
perity" of the country or with ''ve~ted
rights" BY the prosperity of the cOun-
try he means the prosperity of the big
cattle and sheep owners. By vested