West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-02-26
LAND MONopoLIzeRs.
Bill to Allow Cattle Barons to
Lease Government Land.
SETTLERS DEPRIVED OF RIGHTS,
Colonel Mosby, Who Was Investigate
Ing the Matter, Has Been Recalled
because He wns Learning Too
Much--Thc Administration Favors
the Barons Against the settlers.

Much-rhc Administration Favors
the D"rons Against the settlers.
The cattle barons appear TO have
friends at court who are helping them
to perpetuate their monopoly OF the
government lands In the western states.
a special dispatch from Omaha to tho
Washington Post says:
''The land leasing bill, az now con-
structed, was introduced into the sen
ute and house at the last session OF con-
gress. Its advent crcatsd furor OF
indignation In the western states, and
its eject on the approaching elections
was the cause Of the laying aside of the
measure. Opponents of the measure
denouncc Il as n glaring attempt TO
create a land monopoly in the western
states.
ut is proposed TO lease for period
not exceeding twenty years any govern.
ment land remaining mapplicd FOR nt
the rate of from l To q cents per acre
per annum. The proposition ON Its face
means the acquiring OF IA revenue by
the government from lands now occu-
pied and seemingly worthless. The real.
ity, Il Is claimed viii be nn increasing
annual draft OH the federal treasury
for costs OF collection, the establish
ment OF a large number of new fat Of
fees. the control OF immense areas OF
western land and the consequent pre-
vention OF settlement 10y industrious In
divIduals by few great cattle and
sheep raising corporations aud the con
sequent absolute control OF prices OF
meats 10y the land monopoly"
The dispatch further adds, Colonel
Mosby was rapidly informing the pub
lie OF the actual facts when he was re-
called" AS Colonel Mosby was the spe-
cial agent OF the land department at
Washington and had been given orders
20 remove the wire fences tho cattle
barons had erected. his recall must
mean that the administration has given
up its fight against the cattlemen.
The land leasing bin was introduced
In the senate by Senator AIlllard OF Ne
braska and in the house by Congress-
man Bowcrsock OF Kansas and IL
passed by congress WIFI effectively per-
petuate the hold the cattle barons have
on the government lands OF the west on
their own terms.
The farmers OF every state In the
Union are directly interested I'm oppos.
ing the bills now before congress, for
they cannot compete with the price mt
which beef cattle. sheep and wool can
be produced in large herds ON land for
which no rent or interest is paid and
upon which no taxes are assessed.
In the past the free range for cattle
OH the public lands was participated I'm
by all droves, great or small. but I'm the
last few years the large cattle com
panios have fenced In vast tracts OF the
public land, and have therefore monop-
olized It's use. The homestead seeker
has during this time been gradually
encroaching more and more on this
public domain that the cattle barons
have come 10 look upon as their own,
and the result 10 the conflict now be-
fore the public and congress.
The leasing Of these public lands at
the rate of from 1 to cents an acre, or
an average OF 3 cents, is out OF all pro-
portion To their value, and the collec-
tion Will cost more than the govern
ment will receive. There Will be no
protection for the homesteader, for tho
cattle barons would lease all the lands
adjoining his homestead and shut him
of from free range for his cattle, and
perhaps access to the streams, which
are few and far apart on the plains.
The policy OF the government from
the 0rst has been TO reserve tho public
lands for those who wish to make
homes upon them, and It's reversal by
the present administration In the inter
est OF the cattle barons should bo de-
nounced by all. Senators and congress
men should be written to demanding
that the honest settler be protected and
the cattle barons' fences be removed,
so that all can have free access to the
public domain.