THE WESTERN STATES. 25? 



one acre in a hundred thousand, if so much, can thus be used; 

 and the remainder is being gradually covered with herds and 

 flocks. The most accessible and valuable tracts are being rapidly 

 appropriated by the owners of cattle and sheep as grazing grounds. 

 The lands are not purchased by the occupants, nor can they be at 

 present, for the reason, that under the preemption and homestead 

 laws, they can only be purchased or acquired in single tracts of 

 160 acres each by any one person ; a limit which entirely defeats 

 their sale. They are now simply held under the natural right of 

 the first occupier, or by the physical right of the strongest ; a title 

 without warrant of law, and which is not by any means undis- 

 puted amongst the settlers themselves. There are thus sometimes 

 disputes, quarrels, and even conflicts, in which, as is usual, the 

 weaker gives way. It will undoubtedly be the case, that finally 

 the strictly grazing lands will be offered for sale by the Govern- 

 ment, at such prices as they may be worth ; when a legal title will 

 give protection to the small stockman against the usurpations of 

 the greater. But there are many tracts of land admirably suited 

 for sheep pasturing, that may be purchased at low prices from the 

 various railroad companies, or acquired from the U. S. Govern- 

 ment under the Homestead, Preemption, or Timber Culture Acts, 

 which, together, may be sufficient to form a respectable sheep farm, 

 around which, for many years, abundant free pasturage may be pro- 

 cured from the unsold railroad lands, or the unoccupied Govern- 

 ment tracts. These facts, operating advantageously, or otherwise, 

 make it proper to treat of this region under three subdivisions, 

 viz., the Eastern District, the Central and Southern Districts, and 

 the Pacific District. 



THE EASTERN DISTRICT, 



This includes the western part of the States of Texas, Kansas, 

 Nebraska, the eastern part of Colorado, and the southern part of 

 the territory of Dakotah. This district is one vast meadow which 

 bears a variety of grasses admirably suited for sheep pasture and 

 for hay. Mingled with the grasses, in many places, are species 

 of leguminous plants popularly known as " wild pea," etc., which 

 add much to the value of the pasture; there is an abundance of 

 water, either in streams or springs, or attainable by wells at mod- 

 erate depths. The rain fall is sufficient in nearly the whole of 

 this district to allow crops of rye, millet, or lucern to be grown, 

 which are valuable for winter feeding. But the chief attraction to 

 the shepherd, in selected portions of this section, consists in the 

 ease with which he can procure the legal and peacable possession 



