The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1905-07-14
THE NEW STOCK LAW
NOW Operative in This County
by Action of Commissioners.
Also Copy of the Amended Estray
Laws. Must Register all
EstraYs with Auditor.

The board of county commissioners
have decided, from the records in the
assessors office, that three iourths of
the lands in Whitman county are under
fence, and have published a notice of
such 1ndlng, as required by the law. and
the law Is now operative in this county.
Below we print a copy of said law, for the
guidance oi our readers, also copy of
the amended estraY:
An Act to prohibit all live stock from
running at large in any county and
portion OF the county in the State of
Washington in which three fourths of
the lands therein are under fence.
except IN certain cases, and providing
penalty tor the enforcement of the
act.
BE 1t enacted by the Legislature of the
State OF Washington:
Section 1. lie shall be unlawful for
any kind or character Of live stock to
run at large III any county IN this state
IN which threefOurths of the landa.
outside of the Incorporated cities and
towns are under fence, or any portion of
such county three-fourths Of which
portion Is under fence, when such portion
Is separated from the balance of said
county by any natural barrier such as a
river, range OF hills or other sufficient
barrier: Provided, That where more
than one-fOurth of any district is used
Tor grazing OF cattle or horses on the
public domain or on unfenced lands.
such district shall be excluded from the
operation of this act, notwithstanding
the fact that said county NAV come
within lts provisions, and the county
commissioners shall designate such
townships or parts of townships which
shall be excluded from the provisions of
this act: Provided further, That an
area or district of less than one township
shall not be considered for this purpose.
See. 2. lt shall be the duty of the
board OF county commissioners of the
respective counties of this state, when
ten or more freeholders shall make
application for the enforcement of this
act, to ut once determine whether or not
three fOurths OF the lands, outside Of the
incorporated cities and towns, in such
county Is under fence, or whether three
fourths OF any portion of any county
separated from the balance of said
county by natural barrier, is under
fence.
Sec. 3. That the board OF county
commissioners, in arriving at the per
centum of lands in such county or
portion of county under fence, shall be
governed by the records in the office of
the county assessor of such county show
ing the amount OF lands under fence,
which shall be conclusive and binding
upon all residents and freeholders in such
county.
Sec 4. 1t shall be the duty of the
county assessor of each county in this
state, at the time of making the assess
ment in each year to make list of the
lands in bis county, outside of the in
cOrpOrated cities and towns, under fence,
and file certified copy Of such list each
year at the conclusion of the assessment,
with the board of county commissioners,
showing the aggregate number of acres
of land under fence and not under fence.
Sec. 5. 1t shall be the duty of the
board OF county commissioners, on
receipt OF a certified copy OF such list of
the lands, outside of the Incorporated
cities and towns, under fence and not
under fence, from the county assessor,
to at once determine whether or not a
sufficient per centum of the lands in such
county or portion Of county provided
herein, is under fence, to bring said
county or portion of SAID county within
the provisions of this act, and if it is
found that three-fourths of the lands OF
said county or portion of said county,
outside OF the Incorporated cities and
towns, Is under fence, it shall be the duty
OF the board OF county commissioners to
make such entry in the records of their
office and publish notice thereof for at
least four successive weeks in the official
paper IN such county, setting forth the
fact that three-fOurths of the lands in
such county or portion of county, out
eide OF the incorporated cities and towns,
is under fence, and that livestock found
running at large in such county or
portion OF county on and after thirty
days from the first publication of said
notice shall be treated as estrays, and
estrays in any county in which at least
tbree-fourths OF the area, outside of the
cities and towns therein, shall be under
enclosure or fence may be taken up at
any time in the year.
Sec. =. Any owner who permits his
livestock to run at large contrary to the
provisions Of this act shall be deemed
guilty OF misdemeanor and upon con-
viction thereof shall be fined in any sum
not less than twenty five dollars Dor
more than one hundred dollars for each
offense, and it snail be the duty of the
prosecuting attorney in such county.
when it has been determined by the
board Of county commissioners under
the provisions of this act that three
fourths of the lands in such county or
portion of county is under fence, on
complaint OF any freeholder or resident
OF such county to forthwit prosecute
the owner of such stock found running
at large for such misdemeanor.
Passed the House February 20, 1905.
ssassed the Senate March l, 1905.
Approved by the Governor March 8
1905.