Semi-weekly herald., 1911-03-16
ST0CkMEN
STATEMENT
IN REGARD TO THE STOCK IN
SPECTlON TAX AND WHY 1T
SHOULD BE CONTINUED

alton regarding the relation of stock
men and the State Stock Inspection
Board to the government of the state
published in Denver papers the last
few weeks, the following statement
IL authorized by the eleventh conven
tion of the Colorado Stockgrowers' As
sociation:
There are in Colorado somewhere
| between a million and twelve hun
dred thousand head of cattle, and
about two hundred thousand norses,
which are mostly pastured upon the
public lands. These animals are
branded, in order to fix ownership
and the brand is made public record.
The assessed valuation of this proper
forty million dollars which would be
open to the depreciation of rustlers
and thieves were it not for the system
| of inspection provided by the state
he stockmen of Colorado pay a large
amount of taxes, and are as much en-
titled to police protection of their
Property as any other class of citizens.
owing to the manner in which the
business Is necessarily conducted. the
ordinary police system of the counties
and cities is not sufficient to provide
that protection, and. for that reason.
for many years the state has levied
special tax of Is of a mill on all
property, for the purpose of raising
funds to assist in giving this protec.
ton. During the last two years this
tax levy has produced about $50 900,
which can only be used under that law
to hide inspectors, pay the State Vet
erinary Surgeon and the Secretary of
the Board This sum is not sufficient
10 pay the force of inspectors needed,
and money derived from the sale OF
estrays is devoted to helping out that
fund and paying the general expenses
of the Stock Inspection Board.
In gathering cattle from the open
range for shipment to market it Is
aften impossible to eliminate cattle be.
longing to owners other than those
who are intending to ship, and these
animals are frequently not discovered
until they reach the shipping point
If they are turned loose at the point
of shipment, they would be far from
their home, and it would be expensive
to return them to their regular range.
These animals are in no sense estrays.
but are called such by the inspectors.
who take possession of them at that
point of shipment, cause them to be
shipped TO market with other cattle.
often at the request Of the owners, and
they are marketed under the super
vision of the inspectors and the money
returned to the owners. This is done
with the consent and knowledge and
desire OF the owners and accounts for
the large amount of money annually
banded by the Stock Inspection Board
which belongs absolutely to the stock
men Of the state, and is in no sense
state funds" While the money deriv-
ed from the sale of these cattle for
convenience in handling goes into
what is known as the "estray fund" in
charge Of the Inspection Board, 1t is
Immediately checked out and sent to
the owner, and goes into that fund
only as matter of record. The fact
that the number OF estrays has be-
come so large during late years is
due entirely to the fact that stock
men have confidence in the Inspection
Board. and prefer to have their cattle
which vave been driven from the
range handled in this manner, rather
than be turned loose at the point of
shipment, in many instances far from
their owners range.
Where other estrays, whose own
ers are not known, or mavericks,
have been sold under the direction of
the inspectors, the proceeds are placed
in special fund and held for three
years. for proof of ownership, and if
ownership is not proven to the salts
faction of the Board within that time.
then the fund remaining is transferred
to the Inspection Fund
The State Inspection Board consists
o. nine members. who are stock
owners. and actively engaged in the
business. They are appointed by the
governor usually on recommendation
o. this association, and represent
| every section of the state. All OF the
business OF this board passes under
the supervision of the commissioners,
and no money is paid out Of the funds
In the hands of the Board without
direct authority from the Board. Com
plete records of all the horses and
cattle inspected, and the records of
the funds handled by the said Board
are kept In the office of the Board
and are open to inspection at all
times. These records are consulted
daily by the stockmen. who thus have
an accurate knowledge OF the trans.
actions OF the board.
This board is operating under civil