La Junta tribune., 1916-06-24
DRY FARMER ON THE HERD LAW
Calls Proposed Herd Law = Hill "a
Restrain All Domestic Animal.
From Running mt Large.

From Running mt Large.
We recently read a letter written
by J. A. Denly, of Cheyenne county.
dry" land farmer OF that section,
that seems to put into a nutshell
some OF the real disadvantages OF the
Herd Law from the standpoint OF the
dry lander. 1t is as follows:
II have been resident of eastern
Colorado for nine years and am in
terested In the welfare OF this sec
ton. In our locality Cheyenne
county, the country has practically
been homesteaded in the last ten
years. The people that are now liv-
Ing on the homesteads are people
who have put forth their best efforts
TO cultivate and establish homes here
and have only succeeded thus far by
getting cattle, principally OF the
milk strains. and selling cream and
butter fat. The majority have been
able to raise enough forage for the
severe winter weather, but have had
to buy their grain. with the excep-
ton OF three years. We have been
experimenting In the farming line
with nearly all kinds of cereals and
grasses. and have not yet found any
thing to excel or equal the native
buffalo grass
1t is an established fact in the
minds OF the people now living here
that this country cannot be relied
upon as grain producing country
Therefore We must depend upon stock
growing and raising feed crops. As
We know. IL requires considerable
area for grazing. We think the small
farmer has not much chance without
the use OF the open range. II the
proposed herd law is put through.
therefore. II means that the moneyed
man will buy this land at his own
price and the homesteader will have
/ to go.
Some may argue that the herd
Law will enhance the value of the
I land. We know IL will not. for our
lands cannot be leased now without
the option to sell at any time. II
I this country is inhabited by only
few ranehmen. what is the land
WORTH
1T may be argued that this section
viii come to a herd Law in etfec, in
time anyhow. Perhaps IL will. but
{ the state isn't ripe for IL yet The
homesteAders who have STAYED
through the drouth and all the dis
eourarement OF an undeveloped coun-
I try have made the land worth what 1t
Is TODAY The people have iAbor-d
hard TO keep the mail route and the
+ telephone which 60 to make a coun-
try.
Il want TO say to Mr.. ToWnsmAn
and our city cousins that they are in
,erested in the development OF our
country All the lines OF business
work together. and when the chain
begins TO break all the links are az
i.cted The proposed herd Law not
only means the hanishment OF the Ay-
craze present resident OF this sec
ton, but II would remove the many
different branches OF business In our
thriving little town. and thus all will
be affected
4 do not believe tina, Colorado
has ever been more prosperous than
during the last two wears. Jus; why
Mr. Hocest should spring such a
move on the entire state at this time
! cannot conceive 10 such a Law Is
good for the irrigated districts. Why
did he no; drAft bill giving them
the option TO vote for II n they want
ed. at special or regular ei.ciion'
". people here call the proposed bill
for herd Law A bill TO restrain all
domestic animals from unnins At
age