Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1907-07-11
The Herd Law

The Herd Law.
Frequently, some one i, heard to
express the opinion that the present
law allowing stock to run at large
during the months of December. .Janu-
airy, February and March ought to bc
repealed. 1t is probably not generally
known that the operation of this law
is subject to county option. The
county commissioners may provide for
vote at any general election as to
whether the law shall be set aside
within the borders of their county.
The matter rests entirely with the
commissioners. A petition by cti-
zens has no legal weight: but it is
probable that any board would sub
init the matter III petitioncd 10y IA
considerable number of citizens so to
do. Following are the principal sec
tions of the Revised Codes (l9O5) that
bear OH the matter
''Sectiun 1898. 1t shall bc lawful Tor
cattle, horses, mules, ponies, swine
goats and sheep to run al large from
the first day of December until the
first day of April of each year. except
within the corporate limits of amy
city or village: provided. that no stall
lion or vicious bull, or any other ami
NAL known to be vicious, shall be al
lowed to run at large at any time
But nothing in this code shall bc CON
strued to repeal any special act estab-
fishing fence law for my county i'm
this state.
Section 1884. The board OF county
commissioners of any county shall.
whenever they deem it advisable, vote
upon the question of aboiisling the
provisions of this article i'm such coun-
| ty. Such vote shall be i'm all respects
conducted by said board Of county
commissioners i'm their regular meet
ing and according to the provisions OF
the law.
Section 1850. Whenever the coln-
ty commissioners shall have voted it
is unlawful for stock To run at large.
then at the next general election, but
at no other time, this question Shall
be submitted to vote OF the people,
and the order of the board Of county
commissioners for such election shah
be madeat least sixty days before such
election is held. and notice OF election
shall be given in the same manner and
for the same length Of time as notices
of all general elections.
Section 1896 The ballots to he used
at such election shall be i'm the follow
ing form: Lawful for stock to run at
large and against lawful for stock
to run at large. In voting on tie
question, each voter must place at the
right Of the proposition he favors the
mark "X." II a majority Of the bal
lots cast at such election is against
ssLawful for stock u run at large,
the provisions of this article shall be
thereby abolished in such county
Section 1897 provides that the mat
ter may be submitted every two years
at a general election. That is. ii at
the general election in 1908 a majority
should vote for the abolition of the
free-Winter-range provisions VI the
herd law in this or any other county
the commissioners could provide for a
vote at the general election i'm lslO or
the proposition to reestablish the
provisions of the law. The object OI
the legislature in placing the hero
law under the working Of county op
tiOn was to allow stock to run at large
during certain month, in the Hewc
counties, while the Iaw restrainin,
stock at all times could be applied il
the Red River valley and in othe
sections where the majority wanted il
that way
He Deserves 1t.
Elmer Brinde, one Of "Ihe Bills
port Country pioneers. has appliee
for the tree-culture bounty provided
under 1905 act Of the legislature
Section 2Os2 Of which reads as follows
ANY person who shall hcreafte
plant, cultivate and keep in a grow
ing, thrifty condition one acre and no
more than ten acres ~ prairie lane