Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-11-11

at the same time In a measure pre-
serve the grass itself? A large por.
ton is now nearly ruined by being
close cropped year after year without
a chance TO get to seed at all, while
inclosed fields that are only used in
winter are as good as they were a de-
cade ago.
| know of no better way TO accom-
plish this than by a leasing law; and
II does not seem to me that il should
be very hard to frame one that would
protect the weak and at the same time
do no wrong to the strong.
Time was when the ranges were not
crowded, and owners OF stock respect.
ed each others rights; and so firmly
did this ems of proprietorship be-
come established that many old set.
tiers felt indignant when a pilgrim
had the temerity TO settle and start
a home on what they were pleased
To call their range. Today il is not
the settler that bothers them, as they
have the water, but IL is the "floater,"
who manages in some way to find wa
ter for his stock within reach of their
winter ranges. and so gets the benefit
OF the grass they had intended for
winter. These "foaters,' | may as
well explain, own no land, don't want
any. and run only dry sheep, gener.
ally wethers from yearlings up. They
bug at the latter age and keep them
until they are fuller matured. depend
ing on the wool and increase in weight
for profit. | can name several such
persons who have over 10000 head
each.
Following the example of the float
I ers," there is a class Of owners that
have a home ranch, but depend on
drifting in the summer. and ii often
happens that they must trespass in
order to get water for their stock. all
of which leads to lawlessness, gun
play and occasionally tragedies.
| have been asked to state the OPP
position TO leasing, and have been
puzzled TO know what to say; it has
been so long since anyone has taken
up that end of the question. while the
converts are very many TO the leasing
scheme. IL is not necessary TO with
draw a single acre from settlement
nor hold the settler OFF till the lease
expires. Let il be provided that he
can take his homestead at any time,
and the lease on that part expires at
once.
It is not expected that all the gov.
eminent land would be leased imme'
diately, but where the water courses
are largest and the most settlers are,
the adjoining ranges surTer most. and
here II would undoubtedly all be tax
en-, to the benefit of all concerned.
The stock business is in an unsatis
factory state nov One We had ripened
beef and mutton for market; To- the
bulk has to go for feeders. all because
of the ~repacity of the stockmen. each
striving to get the most of what Is
not his own.
Another bad feature OF the a Is
that another real hard winter would
bankrupt a large part of the present
owners. All are taking chances, some
more than others. but the temptation
Is strong to try and keep up with
your neighbors, especially ii you think
you are better fixed for wintering thar
they are.
II Is homes and men that constitute
a state, and it seems to me 1t Is time
congress took measures to give more
stability to the great stock interests
and at the same time shut out
class Of people who are not out here
for their health" but rather to real
all the harvest from Uncle Sans pas
ture, regardless of the shape they
leave it in or the harm they do actua
citizens.
In short. the advocates of leasing
hold the time has come when. II the
ranges are to be protected from prac
tical destruction. a change must be
made, and unless congress should
change the land laws SO as 10 give
enough land to each settler to insure
him a living. and consequently the set
Element of the arid regions. the besI
and only solution is the leasing to &C
tual settlers OF the adjoining grazing
lands, firmly believing il would enc
the strife over the range, put The
stock business on a solid foundation
and in every way benefit the state ant
nation. They do not want something
for nothing. but would rather pay
what Is right and reasonable and have
a certainty that the grass they depend
on for w~intering will be there wher
needed and not eaten up late in the
fall by stock from some other county
OF state. as often happens now.
a leasing law would also do away
with the trouble now existing between
the railroad grants. which amount Il
more acres than some Of the eastern
states contain. Large blocks have
been bought up at the minimum pric,
of 81 an acre. As before explained
water is scarce, and even If there
were plenty on each section, II woulC
cost too much TO fence each separate
ly: consequently they have been fenc
ed in blocks as large as townships. II
many cases, and the government Lane
inclosed. Now, this is not Just right
and az the same time the man tina
buys and pays taxes on half hiI
range surely ought to have a bette
| right to the rest than the "hoater,
who only pays on his sheep when hi
cant dodge II. But with a leasinl
law In force, the government Lane
would have to pay a rental. and there
would be no complaint. Right Is RICH
and wrongs no man, and il Is not RICH.
that the ranges should be left for I;
fighting ground.
DAN SLAYTON.
Lavina, Mont. Oct. |, 1903.