Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-17

agent Of The government in charge of
| United States lands, has become promi-
ncnt ard spectacular figure in the bit
| ter light for the range that is being
Wa@ 1t hy conflicting interests in the cat
tie ana sheep country of the West. Col.
/ Mosbys special duty is to clear the gov
tnmcnt land of private fences-work
that requires courage Of high order, for
me annual sacrifice of lives in the West's
great range fight is estimated at 500 vic
tins and death by assassination is the
common lot of those who dare oppose one
faction or another.
Col Mosby, whose headquarters are at
Sterling, Col, the centre of a great cat
tie country, declares that some of the
cattle kings have fenced in and appro-
priated to their own use tracts of land
larger than many German principalities
In defiance of the law they have seized
upon government land, fenced it in, fo--
hidden settlers to touch it, and have made
themselves wealthy from this illegal use
Of Uncle Sans property.
Near Sterling one big cattle company
built scnce which inclosed nearly .. 900
acres. 1t did not completely inclose TIE
land, but extended from the Union Pa
cihc to the Burlington Railroad fences.
thus forming vast triangle. In this
space thousands OF cattle were kept, only
few cowboys being required to look
after the immense herd. When Col. Mos
b. ordered the company to take down the
fence the objection was raised that there
had been no violation of the law because
only Cif1p of q nla haJ /,
closed. Despite the fact that the illegal
fencing law has been practically a dead
letter for twenty years, Col Mosby is in
sistent in enforcing it, and he has stirred
up the cattle owners from the Rio GranGe
TO the Canadian fine. The authorities at
Washington are standing by him in his
work in view of the steady encroach-
ments of cattle interests on public land
in the last few years. 1t is estimated that
In the Alliance. Neb.. district alone there
are 6.1i6,200 acres of government land
fenced in. This land is worth nearly s10,-
100000, and on it the cattlemen have near
y 100000 head of cattle.
Few persons appreciate the strenuous
fight that is being made for the possess
sion Of the range in the Western county
The recent arrest Of Tom Horn a noted
scout and Indian fighter. served to bring
the subject sharply before the public
mind. Horn. who fought Indians under
Crook and Miles, and who had charge or
the pack trains Of the American forces
in Cuba, is now in Jail at Cheyenne,
charged with the murder of Willie Nick
ell, son Of a settler who had incurred the
enmity of some big Wyoming cattle in
terests Incidentally, Horn is alleged to
have made a confession. in the hearing
of deputy marshal and a stenographer.
in which he is said TO have boosted that
he had killed Other settlers and that a
certain cattle company paid him 50 muon
q head for every foe who was removed
from the range.
One of these mysteries of the range,
which may never he solved, is the disap-
pearance of Joseph Hartzell of Park
county. Colorado. HartzeH claimed the
homestead rights on certain grazing land,
and threats were made against him. H
refused to be frightened out OF the coun-
try. and several months ago he disa2-
peare-l. No trace of him has ever been
found though rewards have been offered |
He was wealthy. and his affairs We're in |
such shape that fight was not to be