Gunnison news-champion., 1916-07-07
nED lIu OPP1s0 n
uIInls1I STOCK GROWERS

WHEREAS, There are now being
circulated in the State Of Colorado
certain petitions for the imitation OF
. 90 called Herd Law" the effect Of
which, If enacted. would hs to prsc-
sicaliy prohibit all live stock from
running At large. and thus destroy
the value to the State Of large areas
Of grazing lands which sre wholly
unfit and unsuitable for farming
purposes: aud
WHEREAS. The enactment Of
such Law would. in the judgement
Of the members Of the Gunnison
County Stock Growers' Association,
practically destroy one of she moet
important branches of industry in
this State. and would accomplish
substantially nothing calculated to
materially enchance the financial OF
business interests Of its citizens:
FURTHER. That during the last
fifty years, since the settlement Of
the then territory aud state. any
such law was not considered. The
pioneers and homesteaders had to
fence their land, build the trails and
roads Of that day. and that, too. with
the herds Of transient cattle on oil
sides. They paved the way for a
larger settlement of the state. They
wanted no law to stop an industry
that was growing, and has reached
such proportions as to pay an i'm
portant part OF our taxes and one oi
the principal industries of the State.
The new homsteader is NO better
than the pioneer, with not half the
obstacles to meet. Why kill a we'll
established industry for the pros
pect Of few homesteaders who will
eventually want to 60 into the same
business. but who will be handi-
capped by such an infamous law?
FURTHER. That the high alti.
tudes of Gunnison County limit the
agricultural interest principally to
that of producing hay, aud grasina
stock. and for that reason. any Law
or change in the present agricultur.
al conditions which would interfere
with grazing, would psralyss this
stock raising industry. Of Gunnison
County. and consequently. BY Dc.
stroyipg the cattle industry. would
practically take away the market 70,
hay.
FURTHER, That it should be
strictly understood that the stockmen
of Gunnison County are all owners
Of small herds Of cattle. and that
there is not single instance Of . So
called Cattle Baron" in Gunnison
Comfy; that the range is used en-.
tirely by men whose herds Of cattle
do not exceed an aversgeof l25 head,
and that these small herds Of cattle
make it possible for tho settlement
Of tho valleys BY large number Of
ranchmeD; thevalue of their ranches,
and the prosperity Of their industry
depending almost entirely upon the
open range.
THEREFORE BE 1T RE.
SOLVED By the Gunnison County
Stock Growers Association of Colo.
rsdo. this 18th day Of June. 1916
that We arc unaltersbly opposed to
either the initiation or enactment Of
the % called Herd Law" and de-
nounce the ssme - being proposed
Legislation Of . highly injurious and
pernicious character, wholly united
to the natural conditions Of our
State. and tending. if enacted, to
substantially diminish tho amour,
Of money which annually comes into
Colorado in exchange for is pro.
ducts. and to increase the rate Of
taxation BY causing the removal
from our Stste Of large portion Of
ono Of its most valuable classes Of
property.
/ We earnestly urge every citizen
who has the general welfare and
prosperity Of our County and State
at heart to refuse to sign any petit
tion for the initiation Of this destruc.