PASSING OF THE FEDERAL PASTURE 



made to the leasing scheme, whatever its 

 form. The nomad herdsmen, of course, 

 object. They enjoy government pasturage 

 free, and do not wish to pay. Opposition 

 is offered by some cattlemen who have, con- 

 trary to law, fenced government land, are 

 utilizing it free, to the exclusion of their 

 neighbors' herds, and desire to continue this 

 monopoly. Most cattle owners, however, 

 who have fences favor a leasing system. 



A small class of opponents are settlers 

 who do not make a business of cattle feed- 

 ing, but simply own a few head, which they 

 brand and turn out upon the prairie practi- 

 cally without care. In good seasons their 

 cattle are a source of profit; in bad seasons 

 droves of them die. 



Most sheep feeders oppose leases, their 

 principal reason being that sheep like to ex- 

 patiate over a greater range and variety of 

 territory than cattle, and cannot, year in and 

 year out, be profitably fed on a restricted 

 area. 



The above grounds for protest would 

 probably give Congress little pause, but 



57 



