Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-02-20
equal RIGHTS TO ALL.
SPECIAL PRIVILEGES TO SOSE.
Elkc. County, Ney Feb. ls. 1908.

Elko, Comfy, New Feb. ~, l9O3.
This statement has been caused by a
perusal Of your article IN Saturdays lS-
headed -Tue Sheep Bill
and il you can spare the space for u few
facts, the sheep bill in particular and
the sheep industry in Elko county in
general will be discussed by one who is
neither a cattleman nor a sheepman,
but is as deeply interested in the welfare
Of the county as either.
In the first place, it will be admitted
that the sheep industry Is Il legitimate
and legal one and that there is nothing
in tae State Constitution prohibiting
it.
Regarding the sheep in our county, an
inspection OF the taxes and licenses col
lected from the sheepmen, will show
that they are among heaviest tax
payers and contribute a good share Of
the money i'll orr county treasury.
We can find ont. by investigating, that
the b ecpmen purchase a greater part Of
the produce raised by our Elko county
ranchcrs. Compare the amount Of grain
used by the sheepmen with the amount
purchased by the cattlemeu and other
produce likewise.
know that b presence Of the sheep
meu in this county has proven a benefit
to the rancher.
Whether the cattleman has been beue.
fitted by the sheepman is another phrase
OF the question entirely.
We have asked cattlemen. sheepmen.
bankers, merchants and lahorers to give
us Ii good reason, strictly legal, in its
highest sense, by what 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 a just reply.
There is room in this county and
State for both industries, nUtwithstand-
ing the ideas OF the present legislature
Oh this question, and the public domain
is for :he s%heepman as well us Tor the
cattleman and rancher.
Why will it be necessary for the small
rancher to sell out to the sheepman? Is
not farm produce at present, at the
highest price it has been for years. Are
no the small ranchers paying taxes on
more property, both real and personal.
than they ever did before? In short,
are they no more prosperous than ever?
Are their objections to the sheepman
based on an Inherited dislike and
aversion, or are they merely envious Of
the shcepmen's prosperity?
Drive the shecpmen out of the county
and you increase the taxes Of the man
with his small home, the men in all lines
OF trade, the real estate owner and
others, and all for the purpose OF allow
ing the cattlemen to have control Of
thousands and thousands Of acres OF
land to which they have not the shadow
of Il 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 IA well as the Nevada
s%heepmen? III they become residents OF
Nevada would their share OF taxation
on their sheep in our county increase?
Certainly not! Such statements, made
by Nevada people, are made to cloud
the issue. and are mere subterfuges.
Why not make laws against the mil
ionaire cattle owners OF California
whose herds are p%asturing on Nevada
lands?
Is this the way to induce outside
capital to invest in Nevada properties
and develop our resources?
Why docs "rancher7 find fault with
the foreign ]shecpmen Pod not the Ne.
vada sheep? Can the writer OF that
article tell, by examining tho Innd after
il has been pastured, whether the sheep
were foreign or native?
AS a friend OF the cattlcmen. ! sound
n waning!
DO not crowd the %shoepmcu 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 III our statutes are special
class Legislation and unconstitutional
and then what will become Of our tres,
pass and other anti.shecp laws?
Will the cattlemen like the idea OF
fencing their lands in order to legally
protect thom against sheep, both foreign
and nativeY
"Let we'll enough alone is u good
motto for them to follow. repeat
there is room enough in this state und
especially in this county, for both in,
dustries.
Do not attempt to destroy one oi
them and thereby ruin both.
Submitted in Il love OF fair play.
\ FRIEND or THE CATTLE
81 SHEErMEH.