RANGE WARS 



13 



the use of the public range in the neighborhood of their hold- 

 ings. 



The most intense feeUng was aroused with respect to migratory- 

 sheep, which were often driven great distances to the summer 

 ranges, coming from neighboring counties and, not uncommonly, 

 from adjacent States. The alien sheep interests added to the 



Fig. 4. — SUMMER RANGE DENUDED OF VEGETATION AS A RESULT OF COM- 

 PETITION BETWEEN SHEEPMEN AND CATTLEMEN DURING THE "FREE-FOR- 

 ALL" GRAZING PERIOD. 



Many years of skillful livestock handling are required to reestablish the once luxuriant growth of 

 nutritious bunchgrasses. 



controversy. In some localities the pastures were overrun by 

 sheepmen who were not citizens and who, of course, owned no 

 land.^ When sheepmen took their bands from the ranges in 

 the fall they often started fires to destroy any remnant of 

 vegetation that might be grazed by cattle. Fierce conflicts 

 followed such action. Herders were killed and animals were 

 shot down or so scattered that they became the prey of coyotes 

 and other wild beasts. 



1 Griffiths, David, "Forage Conditions on the Northern Border of the Great 

 Basin." U. S. Deot. of Agr.. Bur. of Plant Ind., Bui. 15, p. 23, 1902. 



