, 1908-02-11
SHEEP MOUNTAIN SHEEPMAN RE.
PLIES To LETTER WRITTEN
BY LARAMIE RIVER
CATTLEMAN.
Reported Purchase of Ton
of Groceries in Denver by Sheep
man and Quotes Latter in Denial
BY Single individuals Also Re-
celves Attention of Writer.
Laramie, wyo.. Feb. II, 1870!


To the Editor of The Republican.
Whereas, Mr.. Hans Olson, the presi,
dent of the Albany County Cattle and
Horse Growers association, has seen
fit to force himself upon the public by
making himself the author of a dis,
connected treatise on the range ques
ton, L take the liberty of answering
him partly.
In going over the article 1t is impos,
sible to give Mr.. Olson credit for ar.
suing the range question at all, be.
cause he starts by picturing the horri.
Bile conditions existing for the small
stockman between the Big and Little
Laramie rivers, and her goes on y
make the assertion that the Laramie
merchants favor the sheep man, and
then ends up by some dribble pertain
ing to some personal conversation he
claims to have had with some sheep
man at about the time of the sheep,
mems convention in Laramie.
The Small Stocknan.
In the first place, Mr.. Olson speaks
of the small stockman. | wish TO
say that Mr.. Olson does not represent
the small stockman at all. Mr.. Oh
son and his associates are what any
man in reasonable circumstances
would call "welLto-do" stockmen; in
fact, a number of the gentlemen he
represents are what President Roose,
Welt would term ''cattie barons.' I'm,
less / am very badly miEnformed, Mr..
Olson owns a splendid ranch on the
Big Laramie river, all or mostly un.
der irrigation, raising a great many
tons of hay, considerable grain and
ether commodities. In addition to
this, | believe he is also owner of sew.
eral hundred head of cattle. Some of
the associates of Mr.. Olson, or mem.
bers of the organization of which he is
president, | do o hesitate to say,
when it comes to financial matters, can
buy the average sheepman between the
rivers. Therefore, | suggest that Mr..
Olson and his associates allow the
"small' stockman to speak for him.
self
Experience With Merchants.
Mr.. Olson speaks of the Laramie
merchants favoring the sheepman,
This, of course, is news to me, but
having had some experience among
merchants, l wish to say that never
saw one yet who did not look with ia.
vor on any man or set of men who
bought literally of him n paid
promptly, and it is just possible that
is why the merchant thinks the sheep,
man is a desirable resident for the
community. Mr.. Olson also states that
a certain sheepman between the rivers
owning $500 sheep and twelve sec.
tons of land, whose family consists
of only he and his wife, and employing
me sheepherder, had received a ton
Of groceries from some firm in Den,
yer, and being of small family, it was
easy to see that the local merchants
would not benefit by his presence for
some time to come. | know of only
one sheepman between the rivers that
this description nearly covers, and
am authorized by him to say that
il Mr.. Olson or any one else can prove
by the records of the Union Pacific
railroad or any other common carrier
that he vas the recipient of a bill OF
groceries from a firm in Denver or any
city in the United States outside OF
Laramie in the last six months, he will
make him a present of $500. The writ
err would like to know just what bear
ing the alleged discovery that a certain
sheepman had bought a few tins OF
oorned beef and a sack of beans from
some firm in Denver has on the range
question.
Nature of Land Owned.
Mr.. Olson also made the statement
that this same sheepman owns twelve
sections of land, depriving twelve
whole families of a livelihood. Mr.. o.
son does not say anything about thi
nature of the land this man owns, Of
if it would be possible to irrigate Of
cultivate it, but would have it appea'
that it was fine ~irrigable land and Prob
ably hay meadow. To show the rea
nature of this land, this sheepman hai
authorized me to say that if Mr.. Olsor
will bring twelve poor and deserving
Ine.AIa..aA a.. ano