The Delta independent., 1916-11-03
Why We Are Opposed to the
Present Initiated Herd Law

the price OF beef. leather and by-prod-
ucts.
If conditions prevent the mainte-
nance of fences by private property
owners, it would be sensible to have
: law making fencing necessary. If,
however, conditions will make it nee
essary for most owners OF farms and
other lands to fence, and such is the
necessity of anyone owning a few ami
mails, it does not seem sensible or ad-
visable to repeal all fence laws. it
should be noted in considering this,
that towns and cities are not so di-
rectly affected by fence or herd laws
as farming communities. because mu-
inequalities have authority to and 10
make ordinances regulating this mat
ter within town and city limits. 1t
IL only indirectly that towns and cit
les aer affected, as by an increased or
a diminishing price Of meat. leather,
etc.
Another phase Of the question af-
fecting owners OF farm and stock
lands, is the water supply. These
mountain grazing lands are the water
sheds from which farming commune
ties obtain their supply of water for
irrigation purposes. The normal flow
of these streams is now, in most re-
gions appropriated. If cattle are not
continued on these ranges, or the ne
their number. or causes them to be
removed, it is but natural that sheep
growers from further west will take
advantage of these ranges, because
time. Sheep in grazing make innum-
cradle trails which in these ranges
-rould become water courses to drain
these watersheds Of rains and melting
snow. They more closely tramp and
eat the vegetation. which regulates
the water run off from these water
sheds, and there is little doubt that
a few years of grazing of great num-
bers af sheep on these ranges where
cattle are now grazed, Will materially
affect the water supply by causing an
early run-off. and consequently low,
late season flow.
It is well known. too, that much of
the feed consumed by livestock in
Colorado is purchased by the growers
from farmers who are not engaged
in livestock growing, but who usually
have but few farm animals. The
interests of these two classes are
bound up together One creates
market-the other supplies that mar
ket; both have valuable properties
which pay taxes; neither can afford
to diminish the market value of the
others property nor its tax paying
value; neither can afford to incur .ex-
pense in excess Of their present nee
essary expenses.
Finally, it may be said that this pro-
posed law will directly damage every
owner of livestock, whether ne has
merely a COW and a few horses or
large number, and viii damage every
farmer who grows crops sold in part
Oll MAI ACTS NHltn dAS dAAtCpSAA bN lllS
livestock industry. Indirect damage
will result TO the owners OF tax pay
ing property on which taxes will nee
essarily be increased, and to all per-
sons who use the products of the live
stock industry We are opposed to
the bill as initiated. but believe herd
law should be passed which would pro-
;ect the interests of the formers, and
generally benefit the rural communi-
ties; and believe that such a law can
be prepared and passed which would
be so just and fair that it would not
cripple or materially injure the stock
growing interests, but would be ben
eft to the state as a whole.
DELTA COUNTY BUSINESS MEMS
ASSOCIATION
BY Geo. W. Bruce, President.
n, f. Clack, Secretary.