The Dickinson press., 1903-01-31
the RANGE QUESTION
Jeff Mcdonald Answers Some
Questions aud Throws in u
Little of His Own Ex-
perience.

AosS AuS Az ~ 1SIiCulluIA wi.
lege sent out circulars with a view Of
finding out something definite regarding
range problems of the state. One Of these
circulars fell into the hands of T. ]. Nc
Donald Of this place. and following are
given the questions sent out by the agri-
cultural college and Mr.. McDonald's
answers:
g. How long have you lived upon
range land have you a definite knowledge?
A. Fifteen years. Nebraska, North
and South Dakota and especially west.
ern North Dakota.
Q. What is the average carrying
capacity per square mile for horses, for
cattle or Tor sheep N the range in which
you are interested?
A. Cattle, % to 80; horses, IS; sheep,
100 to 10. This is for range that has
not been o%verstocked.
Q. Has the capacity to carry stock
been diminished within your experience,
and if so, how much and to what causes
may such dimunition be attributed?
A. Yes, one.half by overstocking,
principally by large sheep outfits, travel
ing over the country, from one state to
another. No matter how careful the
resident ranchman may have been OF his
range, he is the victim of the travelling
sheepmen. none of whom seem to have
any respect for his rights unless COM
PEELED to by force. The resident man
has his money invested in permanent
improvements, pays taxes, but has no
law for the protection of his rights.
Q. Are the lands near..you unsuitable
for profitable cultivation? II Sc, is this
due to lack of moisture, uneven ground,
or what other known reason?
A. Lack of moisture and rough land,
O. Has any of the land that you think
unsuited for cultivation been broken for
that purpose?
A. Yes.
Q. What effect does such breaking
have upon the land when again made
use of grazing purposesl Does it event
ually become as good as before?
A. 1t grows up to weeds the first few
years and in the course OF 10 to IS years
will come back into good grass land.
Q. Have you any treatment to recon-
mend for improvement of the range:
where they have been o%verstocked?
A. Here is the most important ques
ton of all and l would like to have ever.
stockman of this part of the state give ar
answer or give his opinion of my answer
First, make it the duty of the govern
ment agent who is sent up to look W
cases of stolen timber to look after the
grass as we'll, and see that the range i.
not overstocked.
Second, make laws compelling ever,
stockman to stay on his wi rangel anc
not allow him to feed off the range tina
has been saved by his neighbor. Thi!
will make stockmen careful about over
stocking.
Last summer kept the cattle off
part Of my range around my place ST
that l would have good winter grazing
for my stock and in the fall one of thu
nonresident sheepmen came along ane
threw 1000 sheep. more or less, on tn
land had so carefully kept for winte
use and just fed off everything. As a
consequence Of this high handed act
was compelled to run my cattle off 4 OF
miles from home for feed. These non
resident sheepmen always camp aroun
the good watering places and when you
cattle come in sight they set their dog
on them.
These outsiders do not pay taxes, anc
they are permitted to come in and ruiz
the small rancher's business.
This 10 all wrong and our lawmaker
in Bismarck and Washington should d.
something to protect the little fellow
who pay taxes and keep up the govern
ment expenses.
One of my Billings county neighbor
protested when a band Of 10000 to II
COO sheep was being thrown onto hi
range and was beaten over the head b
one Of the foreign sheep herders.
T. J. MCDONALD.