Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-02-19

the value Of the agricultural products alone
from these counties during the year 1910
equal the output Of gold from the entire
Alaskan gold fields,
tgi Conflicts with CattIemcn.
Tile development Of this section OF the
state was initiated in 1885. beginning with
an act Of congress passed for the purpose
Of freeing these lands from unlawful en-
closures and the monopoly which the graz
Ing interests at that time seemed TO have OF
Of them. and subsequently on August 4,
1885. President Cleveland passed a prOcla-
matlon directing that these lands be freed
from unlawful enclosures. and that no one
should exercise an exclusive right to use
the same This proclamation, however
wps not obeyed, and two years later. the
president ordered the military authorities
TO enforce respect and observance OF his
Proclamation under the law. The troops
stationed az Fort Robinson were ordered,
out and destroyed the fences enclosing
these lands over sections Of the country
10 the west In this state and in wyoming
But these fences seem to have been built
up again and the grazing interests re-
tanned almost exclusive control Of this Sec
ton Of the state. Homesteaders at times
made efforts to settle on these lands.
which precipiiated bitter and sometimes
bloody conflicts with the grazing interests.
This state OF affairs continue until 1902
and 1903 when the authorities at washing
ton called IN the representatives OF the
grazing interests and informed them that
this country must be opened. up to settle
uent and 10 end the lands freed from I'M
lawful enclosures. and a years time was
given them to arrange to bring this about
Al sorts OF devices were resorted 20. to
maintain these enclosures. one OF the
most common was that OF hiring soldiers
widows 10 make entries OF these lands. in
strips OF forty acres, ana locating fences
thereon. and further securing soldiers and
their widows to make mere prefunctory
filings on lands to prevent bona flde home
steaders from entering them or the gov
eminent from destroying the unlawful en-
closures,
Under tKiRkaid Act.
ON June 2S 1904 the Kinkald act. under
which settlers might enter $40 acres instead
Of i6s acres. as heretofore, went into ef-
feet, and IL became possible with few fraud
alent filings TO cover an entire enclosure
either for the purpose Of ultimately Sc
curing title 70 the land under an arrange
nient with such entrymen or to prevent
the government from taking down fences
around land held under cover OF homestead
rights. In 1894 and 1906. prosecutions
against a large number Of persons were
instituted. charging the unlawful enclosure
% public lands and conspiracy to defraud
the government OF the title, These prose
cutions resulted in conviction OF the Of
tenders. The government also at the same
time instituted suits in equity under the
same act q congress passed In 1885. com
polling the offenders 70 remove their
fences. and DEGREES were obtained involv-
les the destruction OF unlawful enclosure
Of about 100000 acres. These prosecutions
and civil actions have been more effective
p openlhs up this country and settling the
controversy between the grazing interests
and the homesteader, than the employment
Of the military and the wonderful develop
uaent that has taken place IN. this country
has occurred largely since the commence
uent o. these prosecutions