The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-03-30
LAND BOARD AND STOCKMEN
UNABLE TO GET TOGETHER

The land board, sheep and stockmen
failed to reach an agreement at their
conference Saturday afternoon over
the proposed rules covering the leasing
of state lands upon which there is
conflict between the sheep and stock
interests regarding the two-mile limit
law and the use of stock range for
sheep. BY arrangement with the board
by all factions the hearing went over
until April - when the executive com
mittees Of the Idaho Wool Growers
association and the Idaho Cattle &
Horse Growers association will meet
with the land board and a definite
conclusion will be arrived at. At the
afternoon conference Of the sheep and
stockmen an effort was made to get to
gether on an agreement by which q
rule could be drafted satisfactory 10
both. S. II. Blackwell was chairman
of the conference and James Il. Gin
ton, secretary. Each SIDE stood firm
on their respective demands and so re-
ported to the land board.
Will Make No Leases
After hearing the report the board
passed a resolution to the effect that
between now and April % no leases
will be entered into for state land with
either the sheep or stockmen. By TAX
ing this action neither side is given an
advantage and the issue can rest until
the next conference takes place. Aside
from the conflict as outlined there is
no other serious conflict with regard
to the proposed rules which the land
board proposes to adopt and put into
effect.
Prior to the next conference with the
,.,,Nr hn
discussed fully by all sheep and stock
men. At the conference yesterday
when it was suggested that the sheep
and stockmen get together and arbi-
trate, there was considerable good ma
plainly evident that both would stand
on what they consider their rights III
the matter of using the state lands for
grazing purposes. The sheepmen
seemed to recognize that in time they
are doomed to be shut off the range
they held for so many years due to the
rapidly settling of the dry farm lands.
In fact Governor Alexander pointed
this out to the sheepmen when he urg-
ed that they get together as citizens,
representative of all the state, and not
as representing their own individual
interests, SO that an agreement salts
factory to all could be reached
Are Against Two Mile Limit
The sheepmen pointed out that the
two mile limit law is working out as
an injustice to their industry because
of the settlement of even the remote
dry farms here and there over the
former open range, shutting it off from
them because they cannot approach
within two miles of such farm lands to
Craze their sheep but must keep them
moving. They are for the repeal of
the two mile limit law. The stoe,hmen
demonstrated in their argument they
are just as determined the statute shall
remain in force.
The small stockmen made a showing
to the board they were entitled to some
rights and that the range should not
be shut off from them altogether. They
argued that unless there are rigid rules
put in effect by the land board this
will be the case. At the conference OF
the sheep and stockmen the issues of
all concerned were discussed at length
but it was evident after the discussion
had gone on some time there was nc
prospect of an agreement being reach
ed.-Capital News.