Gunnison news-champion., 1916-05-26

nison Soousy os<ScA 0hoWSSo AD~OcAssS''
Since the majority Of Gunnisonites
were not fortunate enough to hear Mr.
Cratton's talk on the proposed herd Law
last week, have been asked to place
the subject before you. from the cow
mans point Of view.
For those who have heard nothing
about it. will say. that this herd law.
drafted by the editor Of The Great Di-
vide. is for the alleged purpose Of en-
couraging settlers to take up home
steads in Colorado, with the promise
that they would not have to fence their
land.
Thus, il the owner of solitary milk
COW or Of large bunch of stock cattle.
inadvertently allows an animal to stray
on to an unfenced claim. he must pay
for the damage done.
Such law. would therefore necessi-
tate the guarding of each claim or home
stead from the depredstions Of cattle
by the owner. Not only would It be =
heavy expense to the cattlemen to keep
. herder or guard stationed at each
scattered homestead. but it would be a
difficult proposition to secure guards,
since the proposed law makes the herder
responsible to the same extent as the
owner. IL any cattle do encroach on the
homestesders' crops. Nor would many
men be anxious to take position that
required almost constant attention,
since, as everyone knows who is familiar
with the habits of cattle. that they
start grazing at daybreak. and cover
many miles day.
The cattlemen of Gunnison county are
one and all against herd law for Col
orado. because we are convinced that it
would spell ruin for our industry.
Surely, everyone realizes that the
stockmen here are only small owners
and cannot afford to own large pastures,
as great cattle companies usually do,
but are dependent on raising their stock
on the vast public domain and forest
reserves. of which there Is an immense
area In Gunnison county.
1t would be entirely different matter
in section where the sheep industry
was the most important, since. - you
know. the habits Of sheep are DO dis
similar 70 those of cattle, grazing in
large punches. herded continuously. etc.
Yet the expense of herders is largely
offset by the protection they give the
sheep from wolves and coyotes.
However. the citizens Of this COM
munity do not have to be reminded that
the cattle, not the sheep, business 10 of
the greatest importance in our section
Of the Western Slope. Nor do want
the people to think that the eattleman
is opposed to the small settler. We
welcome more citizens in our county.
but we consider that the increase in
population would not balance the ruin
in the cattle industry Of Gunnison coun-
ty ii the herd law passed.
As those who attended the Csttlemen's 9
Banquet recently, will remember. Gov.
Carlson said that the best thing the citi.
zens Of Colorado could do for her was to
protect the capital already invested in
the state-in the cattle business among
others. before we tried to develop new
projects.
! believe that possibly in some parts
Of Colorado where the majority Of the
inhabitants are either small farmers or
homesteaders and persons with little or
no stock. that probably . herd law ap.
piled to those counties individually,
would save the settlers the expense of
fencing and yet not injurs any other
industry. But sweeping state law
would indiscriminsteiy include Gunnison
and other. counties where the circum-
stances are widely different.
Also, there exists now . law that pro-
vides for the care Of cattle that are
negligently allowed to run loose, annoy
ing people, and 10 enforced II taken up
before the state stock inspection board.
In conclusion, want to urge all the
voters Of Gunnison county to help in
protecting . firmly established and
fiourishing industry, By defeating the
herd law; for upon the prosperity Of the
cattle business depends vitality the sue
cess Of the business population in our
towns. and the growth Of the State
Normal School.