Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1910-05-04
DRIFT FENCE - 10 BE
ALLOWED 10 REMAIN
(From Fridays Daily.)

The famous Slaughter drift or quar-.
sntine fence case that for several
years has been in the land Office,
and a, times under the consideration
Of both the Secretary of the Interior
and the Secretary Of Agriculture, has
come to an end for the time being Mt
least, due TO the efforts Of Unitee
Staes Attorney J. II. Morrison and
the Live Stock Sanitary Board, says
the Bisbec Review.
The history Of the fence affair is
generally known and has been Of
great interest TO stock raisers to
whom IL was Of great importance
that the fences in the controversy
be left standing to prevent the spread
Of Texas fever.
In 1901 fever infected cattle were
crossing the international line at q
point near Slaghter's ranch, At San
Bernardino. To prevent tho infected
cattle from entering this country and
spreading the dreaded disease among
the stock on this side Of the line,
slaughter built q fence which extend.
ID along the line for thousands Of
yards.
Notwithstanding this precaution,
some of tho diseased stock spread
the fever ticks over part Of the San
Bernardino ranch and to prevent the
fever from getting from the already
infected cattle to those on the other
ranges, Slaughter built three more
lines Of fencing which enclosed pub.
lie domain in the shape Of square
and stopped the spread Of the fever
TO other ranches.
The Territorial Live Stock Sanitary
Board visited the fenced area and
satisfied themselves Of the existence
OF the fever. They ordered the gaps
in the fences closed and put the cat.
tie inside the fence, under strict
quarantine. This action was reported
to the Secretary Of Agriculture, who
approved the action OF the territorial
board and took considerable interest
in the ease, asking for frequent re.
ports.
| Recently, Attorney Dezendorf, OF
the Land Office, visited the ranch and
investigated the conditions. He was
satisfied that the conditions as they
were, were for the best interests Of
the cattlemen. He. found that the
fever ticks had been eliminated from
the San Bernardiho herds, but that
across the line the fever still exist.
ed and there was danger in allowing
the Sonora cattle to again mingle
with the stock on this side Of the
line.
Despite all recommendations TO the
contrary, the Commissioner general OF
the Land Office recommended that the
fence be removed from the public
domain. These recommendations were
made 10 United States Attorney Nor
rison, who took the matter up at one,
with John Slaughter.
Slaughter communicated with tn,
secretary of the Live Stock Sanitary
Board, who in turn referred tit /,
Governor Sloan, who recommended
that the fence he left in place Z,
save an epidemic Of Texas fever il
Arizona, which would mean the quar-
antining Of Arizona cattle.
The Attorney General called OF
United States Attorney Morrison To-
a report Of the situation and the mt
forney wrote a complete history o.
the case and went into details on tn,
danger Of spread of the fever ticl
into this Territory, which would meal
the loss Of thousands Of dollars I,
Arizona ca1tlemen.
! After receiving this report, the At
torney General issued orders that n,
action be taken TO remove this quar-
antine fence, and left the whole mat
te< Of future action in tho hands O
Attorney Morrison, who, when he find
II TO be a fact that there IL no fur
Their danger Of contamination from tn
J fever infected district Of Sonora, ad
joining the San Bernardno range,
! can proceed with the action to r.
} move the fences.
Attorney Morrison stated that h
will take no action to have the fence
: removed until he is positive that IN
fever ticks are exterminated in IN
now seriously infected Sonora di,
triet, as he knows that IL the feve
should once get into the Arizon
herds an injury would be done cattle
men that would take years TO repair