, 1907-02-04
HAPPINESS THE HIGHEST AIM.

No system of government can stand
permanently that does not have for
its highest aim tho peace and happi-
ness of the individual. That is the
very purpose Of government. Looking
ut the range problem from this stand
point, can 1t be said that present con
ditions are conducive TO the peace oil
mind, contentment and happiness oil
the people engaged in the stock busi'
ness?
A few years ago tie writer asked
n railroad man who was about to en-
gage In other business why he did not
take UP ranching. The response was
Il do not care to go into a business
in which | cannot be at peace and In
accord with my neighbors. Life is too
short to engage in a struggle for fore
ible control of something that | can
never legally possess, and under the
present order of things no one in mod
crate circumstances can get legal con
troll of sufficient land to insure sue
cess in the stock business. | want to
be in some business where l can feel
safe in sticking my head up over a hill.
Just so long as 1t is impossible to get
legal control of sufficient range to feed
ones stock, there will be strife, neigh
borhood feuds, slaughter of sheep and
assassination. When the deadline
passes ron Wyoming. l will consider
going into the stock business"
Suppose that man had been enabled
under the law to homestead or pur-
chase 100 acres of land with n leasing
privilege at one cent per acre for 1850
acres. He could have rested secure
In his new home and pursued his bust
ness without being at war with any
one oven the possession of something
that did not belong to him. Fou sec
lions of good grazing land in addition
to a homestead will support a family,
either in the cattle or sheep business,
and with such a holding a ranchman
would be enabled to improve his prop
erty at will. Fences could be con
structed dividing summer and winter
pastures, the range could be improv-
ed by seeding. stock could be andled
under the most favorable and most
economical conditions N the individ
ual could suit his own pleasure about
grading up his herds drought the in
PRODUCTION of hlgh-grade bulls. Under
such conditions, water could be secur-
ed probably through sinking wells
and pumping the water by mean OF
windmills. Cattle that have plenty OF
fresh water for which they are no,
compelled to go miles DO a great deal
better. All animals are pretty much
alike in this respect. If the system
can be flushed with water that is moi
ice-cold, how much more wholesome II
is. When animals are compelled to
lick sno in order to Quench their
thirst, the loss in flesh is great-more
than would pay for the expense of pro
viding pure, fresh water from wells.
But the greatest blessing that would
come to the state through control un.
der the law would be the peace, har'
mony and goodwill that would exist,
The vast holdings would give way be
fore the small stockman. One hun
bred ~thousand-acre holdings didided
would support twenty-five families in
stead of two or three. Neighborhood
organizations for the destruction of
predatory wild animals and for mutua
advantage and progress along all lines
would be more effective in every way
Sanitary conditions, as suggested by
DR.. Whitehouse, would be ideal, as
focks and herds would not be permit
ted to mix.
The removal of the illegal fences
presents a gloomy outlook, but possibly
the adjustment that will follow will be
along safe and san lines-lines that
will bring the greatest good to the
greatest number and the highest hap
piness to all our people.