Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-01-04
BlackfOOt, Idaho.

Blackfoot, Idaho.
To the Editor of the Bismarck Trfb-
une:
There has been from time to time,
great deal of talk among the cattle
men of our different western states,
to have the ranges reserved for graz
ing purposes.
The settlers or homeseekers are
coming from the east, by the en-
enlargement of many Of the real es'
tate men, to take up $50 acres OF
farm land, thinking that they, in
time, will become rich, but on the
other hand, finding their mistakes,
giving up their new home, for the land
is not rich for agricultural purposes.
There are still great ranges in
Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Wyom'
ing, portion of Colorado, Montana and
North Dakota, and these should be
kept in reserve for cattle. These
lands are not fit for agricultural pur'
poses, but excellent grazing.
I know the tendency is toward the
small farm, owned and managed by
the individual farmer, on small and
intensive plan; that the matter of
cattle raising is becoming a fact OF
science.
With the spread of irrigation it has
been shown that a few acres of land
can be made to do the work OF many
acres OF range in the matter of feed
ing cattle. We are told, also, that
land Is too valuable to keep for graz
ing purposes when one can get $40
or more more per acre for it.
However, there are millions OF
acres not fitted for agricultural pur-
poses In the west, which can be profit
ably used for grazing purposes. What
is the use to slice these lands up into
small parcels and sell them to SET
tiers, who, in time, will leave them,
finding that they cannot make a Ev'
ing from them as agricultural lands.
The government, should think, ought
to reserve public ranges for the bene
fit OF cattle.
am not the only one in favor of
reserving the range for stock, and l
believe cattle-aising is just as nee
essary as sheep-rafsing, although the
pests are giving quite a lot of trouble
to our cattle-men. These sheep herd
ers should be limited and not allowed
to trespass over land reserved for
cattle. Once the sheep 60 over a
stretch of range the cattle will not
go oyer it. and is in fact, useless,
as the cattle would be unable to find
feed. The sheep destroy the growth,
and pull the grass up by the roots.
I have been over ranges I'm Montana
and Wyoming, that for miles and
miles, one could see no trace OF
grass, nothing but sand blowing over
the rolling hills, where shee had been
over it.
This ia about how cattle are left to
starve. And how many years has
this been going on, and how many
bloody battles has there been
between the 'cattle-men and the sheep.
| mon?
If this had not ben true, the sad
tale that was told in the Denver
Post" OF late would not have hap
pened in the Big Horn Basin, Wyom'
| ing, between the cattle-men and the
' sheep+men, and when the cattle-men
took the law in their own hands
what was the consequence?
This, alone is enough for the Law
to take the affai . In hand and give
the cattle-men their first rights
What did happen at the Big Horn
Basin, will long be remembered. The
sheep could be fed within fences
where the herders would obtain bet
ter mutton and better wool; although
the Sleeps place Is In a rocky country
where cattle are unable to climb. lei
loose like goats.
| I have noticed our American people
still like their beef steak. And If The
American people depend on farmer: