The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1903-02-28
"EouAL RIGHTS TO ALL,
SPECIAL PRIVILEGES TO NONE"

Elko Independent oil feD. lS Is q reply tC
the communication published in the
Independent and headed "The Sheep
Bill" which was reproduced in last
weeks SENTINEL:
Elko county, New, Feb. 16, 1908.
This statement has been caused by q
perusal of your article in Saturdays In
dependent headed "The Sheep Bill" and
il you can spare the space for q few facts,
the sheep bill in particular and the sheep
industry in Elko county in general will
be discussed by one VINO is neither q
cattleman nor q sheepman, but is as
deeply interested in the welfare of the
county as either.
In the first place, 1t will be admitted
that the sheep industry is q legitimate
and legal one and that there is nothing
in the State Constitution prohibiting it.
Regarding the sheep in our county, an
inspection Of the taxes aud licenses co..
lected from the sheepmen will show that
they are among our heaviest taxpayers
and contribute good share OF the money
in our county treasury.
We can find out by investigating that
the sheepmen purchase greater part OF
the produce raised by our Elko county
rancbers. Compare the amount OF grain
used by the sheepmen with the amount
purchased by the cattlemen and other
produce likewise.
know that the presence OF the sheep
men in this county has proven a benefit
to the rancher.
Whether the cattleman has been bene-
fted by the sheepman is another phase
Of the question entirely.
We have asked cattlemen, sheepmen,
bankers, merchants and laborers to give
US one good reason, strictly legal, in its
highest sense, by which right the sheep
men should be deprived of grazing or
herding their stock ON land that is the
property of the United States and over
which the Nevada Legislature has no
control, and thus far have been unable
to receive just reply.
There is room in this county and State
for both industries, Notwithstanding the
ideas Of the present Legislature on this
question, and the public domain is for
the sheepman as well as for the cattle
man and rancher.
Why will it be necessary for the small
raLcher to sell out to the sheepman? Is
not farm produce at present, at the
highest price it has been for years? Are
not the small ranchers paying taxes on
more property, both real and personal,
than they ever did before? In short,
are they not more prosperous than ever :?
Are their objections to the sheepman
based on an inherited dislike and aver
sion. or are they merely envious of the
sbeepmen's prosperity?
Drive the sheepmen out of the county
and you increase the taxes OF the man
with the small home, the men in all lines
of trade, the real estate owner and others
and all for the purpose of allowing the
cattlemen to have control OF thousands
and thousands OF acres of land to which
they have not the shadow of claim.
Then again the article states that the
bill is aimed against the foreign sheep
men. Does the bill so state? And are
not the foreign sheepmen subject to taxes
and licenses as well as the Nevada sheep
men2 II they become residents of Ne
vada would their share OF taxation on
their sheep in our county increase? Ger
tainly not! Such statements, made by
Nevada people, are made to cloud the
issue, and are mere subterfuges.a
Why not make laws against the mil
lionaire cattle owners OF California whose
herds are pasturing on Nevada lands?
Is this the best way to induce outside
capital to invest in Nevada properties
and develop our resources?
Why does "rancher" find fault with
the foreign sheepmen and not the Nevada
sheep2 Can the writer of that article
tell, by examining the land after it has
been pastured. whether the sheep were
foreign or native?
As friend of the cattlemen, sound q
warningl
Do not crowd the sheepmen too far, or
the result will be that they will carry the
suits brought against them to the United
States Supreme Court, and said Court
will probably declare that all the sheep
laws on our statutes are special class leg
islation and unconstitutional and then
what will become of our trespass and
other anti-sheep lawsr
Will the cattlemen like the idea Of
fencing their lands In order to legally
protect them against sheep, both foreign
and native?
LET well enough alone" is good
motto for them to follow. l repeat there
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