The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1922-11-09
HEPPNER OREGON, THURSDAY, NOV g, 1922
CATASTROPHE AHEAD
LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY

The Oregon State Humane Society
has had surveys made of range con-
ditions and authorizes the statement
that there will be heavy losses of cat
tie and sheep this winter on the
ranges from starvation. A report to
the Chicago Drovers Journal says:
"There are bone-dry conditions over
large areas of the western range
states. Livestock is going into winter
quarters with famine staring 1t in
the face and prices of hay advancing
rapidly. Credit has been largely ex-
hausted and advances by the war
Finance Corporation to banks and
cattle loan companies have relieved
the banking situation but will not
save the stock. Cowmen are mortgag-
ing their ranches to buy hay. Losses
from the slump in prices of cattle
are heavy and individual herders
and cattle firms will be helpless to
save their stock. Losses Of half a
million head in eastern Oregon last
winter will reach into millions if the
coming winter is not mild and open."
Col. Hofer appeared before the ma
tional Humane convention in st. Paul
with a plea for the range stock and
advocates state and national action to
save the Industry from terrible losses.
II the coming winter is hard one.
What Can Be Done?
Asked what could be done to pre-
vent injury and disaster to live stock
on the ranges he said: "There must
be legislation to make it crime to
withhold sustenance from live stock
on the ranges just as it is against
the law to starve domestic animal
in cities under most state laws. Gus
tom and tradition permit owners of |
herds and flocks and managers of
cattle and sheep corporations to live
in comfort in cities and winter in
California and Florida while their
dumb animals freeze, starve and die
of thirst by millions on the ranges.
A herd may lose 10 to go per cent in
winter and the remainder come out
skin-and bones and nothing is said
and nothing done. II the price gos up
they make it back on the survivors.
The last government statistics for the
winter of 1888 show 2,247, 900 cat
tie, 100000 sheep and vast number
Of lambs perished from starvation.
A few years ago nearly the entire
cattle industry of Montana and New
ada was wiped out by freezing and
starving. The stock rustic in two to
four feet Of snow and break through |
the les and drown trying to get to the |
water in rapidly rushing rivers partly |
frozen over.
ain one valley in western state
roo head of white-faced cattle starv-
ed while hay just over a slight ridge
was held at thirty dollars ton. Our
Humane officer last January found
herds dying of starvation and eat
ing willows and trees, with hay stacks
on all sides of them and not ton
for sale. Greed and inhumanity to
creatures that supply our nation with !
food and clothing have been carried
too far. The department of Commerce
and Agriculture can do much to re-
lieve danger of losses of millions OF
stock that it will take three to five
years to replace. The states must act.
The county farm agent law should
be extended to include live stock
and county farm agent should be
given power to move starving stock
or feed it through the winter, with
power to commander hay and make
1t a first lien against stock to take
precedence over all other claims. The
right to keep the herd alive comes
first and if this right does not exslst
it should be created.
Range Conditions Changing
"The great cattle range country is
in a transition stage. Settlers are
in and fencing more and
more land. Large cattle compaies--
the best Of them, have fenced lands
and provide water, feed and shelter.
The shoe stringer still operates by
the hundreds and is the cause of
great share of the losses in winter.
He is being crowded out by the sett-
lers and the western organizations of
wool-growers are demanding that he
be given no leases. Rules and regu-
lations on the Forest Reserves re-
quire that leases for pasturing live
stock be granted only to owners OF
cattle and shep who are able to show
ownership of ranch lands and ability |
to take care of stock when it is taken
off the reserve. That practically ex-
cludes the shoe-stringer operates with
out owning a foot of land and gener-
ally without credit or capital, taking |
his chances to make winning on an
open winter when his stock will get
through without losses. Some way |
must be found to hold him response
BILE for losses to his herds. The shoe
stringer or irresponsible herder
should be shut off the state and fed
eral range lands as he is off the
Forest Reserve"