La Junta tribune., 1916-01-22

ferent from what he had left, and
he did not know to what purpose
the country he had come to was best
adapted.
At that time. and before the Pra.
irie Cattle Company began opera
tions in southern Colorado. there
were few or no sheep in that dis
trict. While the range was free. the
water rights were almost entirely
owned by the cattlemen. The fine
range. however. Was too tempting
to the sheepmen. and they gradual
ly began to drift up with large herds
from New Mexico. These sheep
men. the cattlemen claimed. paid No
taxes. owned no water. and conse-
quently had no right to be there. In
the early days. so-called range
rights" had more or less respect. II
was generally conceded by cattle
men that when one herd had been
undisturbed in . certain locality. Il
was bad form and un-neighborly to
further stock up that portion Of the
range. This was understood as a
'.range-right.' although small
man with a few COWS was never OBJ
jected to.
During Mr.. Green's management
the cattlemen found that the range
was being very much hampered by
large bands of sheep. and they had
many private meetings and many
Consultations as how best to meet
the difficulty. They thought that
the country would always be an op-
en- range and that range rights
would always be more or less
respected. II was finally agreed that
the cattiemen would join together
and. at all risks. drive every sheep
and sheepman out OF that part OF
Colorado.
A raid was organized and. In the
hands Of daring. trusty cowboys.
armed to the teeth. successfully car
ried through without the loss Of q
single man. Every flock was sur
rounded by a strong force. the Mex
lean herdsmen disarmed. ordered to
TO pack up their burros. and. along
with their sheep. xere driven out Of
the state. Many Of the sheep were
killed. the different herds were mix
ed. and in the forced march many
sheep were lost.
In those days there were NO tele-
phones. The owners Of the sheep
lived In cities. and the raid vas
70 thoroughly organized that the
whole treek Was made and over b.
fore the owners knsw anythins
about H. Il was years bsfors thsrs
wsre any shseO u that countsy
asain. bet thsy gsa1ually cane haek.
~ ovasss sssuirias waasr rights h
Tie eountsy, howsves. There we're
Iav suits ID courts for ysars after
wards. but Il vas difficult 70 find
out. IL fact Il vas never pub,lshed.
who we're responsibls aad the actual
instigators of the raid. There were.
Of course. damage suits in court
principally lsveled at The Prairie Cat
lie Company. - bsing chief owner
there.
The matter Of raass rights we're
more or less respected where there
were lots Of open range. but - soon
- the range began 10 b. fully takea
~ range rights were no ioaser ~
garded. However. up 10 about 1880.
Il vas . risky thing. and generally
unprositahle. for . large owner 10 at.
tempt to ride rouEhshod over the In.
ssrssts Of those In any locality. II
1887. the Neederiaghouse brothers.
D.. I1ouis milIionsires. wanted 10
start IN the cattle business In the
west. Their plan was TO turn large
herds loose In southern Colorado and
aorthern New Mexico. hold them
there for one year and drive them
north 10 Montana. They found such
ssroas opposition that they only ~
maiaed ose year and GOT their herds
out the next spring ~ soon ~ pos.
slbie.
before the Fort Worth road vas
buils the Crossslle was sixty miles
from the nearest railroad polnt---
Trtnidad. The I. ! r vas about s>e
miles from Tsialdad and about the
same distsnce from Dodge City.
There were no autonsbiIss, yet peo-
~ rode sa1 drove about ssd occa-
sloaally visited thelr nsishboes. 4
tall % shs ranee was . great sveat.
Dusiae llea1's sAninistrstlon . ball
vas eivea q The Crosseils rsaeh. 4
jarge marquee was erected asd I'll
were Invited. ls wss . rsmsrksbls