The west shore., January 01, 1885, Page 4, Image 4

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THE WEST SHORE
COWBOY OR HOME BUILDER?
The great Cuttle Convention at Si Louis and the
exposure of the effort being mode by "cattle kings " of
Colorado to secue a lease of 3,500,000 acres of the idle
lands embraced in the Crow Reservation, have called
attention to the immensity of the cattle business. It is
estimated that in 1883 the cattle west of the Mississippi
River numlwred 22,790,800, valued at $518,575,889. The
highest value per head was credited to Iowa $27 per
hood whore only the superior breeds are raised. The
samo conditions exist in Illinois, Indiana and other States
east of the Mississippi whose statistics are not given.
Texas is credited with a value of only $10 per hood,
owing to the inferior nature of the greater portion of the
stock grazing on her almost limitless ranges. The value
differs in each section in projxirtion to tho attention
which has boon paid to improving tho breodB. There
has Iwson a groat increase in numbors and value por head
since tho above statistics were compiled.. It might seem
that the routing for grazing purposes of a vast tract of
laud how hold in idleness would be a desirable thing; and
so it would to a few. But the land can be put to hotter
use. Our national domain has limits, as tho thousands
Booking homesteads in tho West are beginning to loarn.
It will not bo many yoars before there will be no more
desirable Government land to bo had. In view of this,
does it sown judicious, or even just to tho pooplo, to
pormit millions of acres to bo thus withheld from the
homo-soekors and devoted to tho enrichment of a fow
men? In his lust report Secretary Tollor thus speaks of
this reservation: "Since my last report tho Indians have
been located on tho Rig Horn. This reservation is much
larger than requirod for thoir suport The reservation
is situated in tho Territory of Montana, and contains
7,304 square miles, or 4,713,000 acres of land. At least
3,000,000 acres might be disposed of, leaving tho Indians
sufficient agricultural lands, to become self-supporting if
they dosiro to become agriculturists, and a sullioiont
amount of grazing land should thoy profor to become
stock raisers. Tho 1,713,000 acres of land that would be
left would give noarly, if not quita, 000 acres of land to
each individual momW of their tribe. The proceeds
of tho surplus lands, proporly used, would make the
Crows solf-BupMrting in a fow years at tho furthest"
What tho Government should do in this matter is to
extinguish tho Indian titlo to these surplus acres, and
throw them oon to settlement undor tho homestead laws
only. Whero they might furnish grass for vast bands of
cottlo and employment for a fow hundred cowboys, they
might, in tho other cose, give homes to as many thou
sand families, multiply their viduo and tho valuo of thoir
products, and increase largely tho iopulotion of tho Ter
ritory. In ono case tho land is mado to swell the pockets
of a few cuttle kings," and in tho other it keeps burning
thousands of domestic hearths. There need le no fear
that the cnttlo business will suffer, or that the world will
bo stiuM in its supply of 1hhL Invasion of the free
ranges by ettlera may roduco the sizo of "kingdoms,"
. but not tlwuuiubor of cattle. It will simply iuweuso the
number of owners. There are no vast cattle ranges in
Iowa, and yet that State possesses nearly 4,000,000 cattle,
all of a superior breed, while Montana has but one-fourth
that amount It is better for the country that one thou
sand men should own ten cattle each than that ten men
should possess a thousand each. Dividing them thus
among many owners has a tendency to increase, not only
the value per head, but the number of cattle supported
by each acre of ground devoted to that purpose. It
eliminates, also, that feature of monopoly, and consequent
arrogance and oppression, which is becoming so notice
able in the cattle business. Serious complaints are made
of the fencing in of publio lands, the acquiring of color
of titlo by fraudulent means to thousands of acres of land
from which home-seekers are excluded at the muzzle of
the rifle, the "freezing out" of settlors and consequent
forced sale to the "kings" of their land claims for a
nominal sum, and a score of other abuses which natu
rally follow the aggregation of large capital in the hands
of a fow men whose interests are not in harmony with
the poorer people surrounding them. Not until our
Territories are settled by a thrifty class of farmers, their
fortilo acres tilled, their cattle increased fourfold in num
bers and supported upon cultivated grass and cereals,
the number of cattle owners increased a thousand fold,
and tho nomadic cowboy superseded by the home builder,
will thoy enjoy the full measure of prosperity to be
derived from supplying hungry humanity with beef.
In the exuberance of his joy at being permitted a taste
of the mild climate of tho Pacific Coast, our artist gave
his fancy rein in our last issue, and drew a' picture
strongly contrasting the winters of the "Atlantic" and
" Pacific." Hardly had the number been distributed and
universally praised, when there came a " spell of weather."
Tho young liuly in the hammock hastened into tho house
for her sealskin sacque; the little girl picking flowers
had hor fingers frost bitten, and the gentleman out driv
ing was compelled to have a pair of runners made for his
buggy in order to get home through the snow. He will
never do it again. In future the climate must take care
of itsolf. It can expect no more aid from one whom it
has so treacherously dosortod in tho hour of need.
The people of Southern Oregon are, to bo congratu
lated. During the post storm no snow fell in Umpqua
or Rogue River valleys, but copious and much-needed
rain. Snow lies deep on the mountains, so that the
minors will hnvo an abundance of water for a number of
months to come. This is a Mossing they have not en
joyed for several years, and it will do much to make
times bettor in that region. The crop and fruit outlook
is also highly encouraging.
The December number of the Decorator and Fur
trislur is a most excellent one. This journal, published
at No. 32 East Fourteenth stroot, New York, is invaluable
to one who is about to furnish a house, or who would keep
posted on tho latest artistic designs and novoltios in the
ar( of house decoration and furnishing.