A drought hit Texas in 1883, bringing to a head a long-simmering conflict between the landless cattlemen of the open range and those who were establishing permanent ranches fenced in with barbed wire. Cowmen began to wreck the fences to get access to grass and water for their herds. They were joined by others who resented the practice of some ranchers of fencing off public land along with their own, and by blocking access to public roads, schools, and churches with their fences. Soon, fence cutting was reported from more than half the counties in Texas, and at least three people were killed as ranchers defended their property. By the fall of 1883, fence cutting had caused $20 million in damages, lowered property values by $30 million, interfered with farming, and discouraged prospective settlers from coming to Texas.
Governor Ireland called a special session of the legislature on January 8, 1884, to deal with the fence-cutting issue. The legislature made fence-cutting and pasture-burning crimes punishable with prison time. At the same time, they regulated the fencing. Ranchers were required to remove any fences from public land or land belonging to others and to provide and maintain gates in any fences that crossed public roads. The new laws largely ended the fence troubles.
This letter is from N.R. Stegall, the Adjutant General of Texas, who held responsibility for verification of veterans' land claims.
Austin, Texas, March 31, 1884
To His Excellency
John Ireland
Gov
Sir - In conference with Interested
parties in Burnett on or about Feb. 12th or
13th I stated that I thought the free &
liberal use of money the only true &
sure means of bringing Fence Cutters to
justice. I deny most emphatically asking
of any one to contribute moneys. Only
stating to some, that I believed that I could
secure the aid of one or two men unknown
who would be of great service to me in
getting at matters sooner than I would
otherwise be able to do, and further it
was understood that I would not take one
dollar of their funds unless that I was given
discretionary powers in the expenditure of the
same. The balance of unexpended funds
are to day in my possession which I will turn
over to any person authorized to receipt for
same.
Yours very respectfully
N.R. Stegall
N.R. Stegall to Ireland, March 31, 1884, Records of John Ireland, Texas Office of the Governor, Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
I am an expert with a deep understanding of historical events, particularly those related to the American West in the late 19th century. My knowledge spans various aspects of this period, including conflicts, social dynamics, and the political responses to challenges faced by the communities of that time.
Now, let's delve into the concepts and events mentioned in the provided article:
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Drought in Texas (1883): In 1883, Texas experienced a severe drought, which became a catalyst for a significant conflict between different groups of cattle ranchers.
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Conflict between Cattlemen: The drought intensified tensions between landless cattlemen of the open range and those establishing permanent ranches fenced with barbed wire. The scarcity of grass and water led to conflicts as cowmen began to wreck the fences to access essential resources.
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Fence Cutting: The practice of cutting fences became widespread among cowmen who opposed the fencing of public land and the blocking of access to public roads, schools, and churches by some ranchers.
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Scope of Fence Cutting: Fence cutting escalated to the point where reports were received from more than half the counties in Texas. The conflict resulted in property damage, decreased property values, interference with farming, and deterrence of prospective settlers, causing substantial economic impact.
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Government Response - Special Legislative Session (1884): Governor Ireland responded to the crisis by convening a special session of the legislature on January 8, 1884, to address the fence-cutting issue.
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Legislative Measures: The legislature enacted laws making fence-cutting and pasture-burning crimes punishable by imprisonment. Regulations were introduced to require ranchers to remove fences from public or others' land and to install and maintain gates in fences crossing public roads.
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Financial Incentives for Justice: The letter from N.R. Stegall, the Adjutant General of Texas, dated March 31, 1884, reveals an interesting approach to dealing with fence cutters. Stegall suggested that the liberal use of money could be an effective means of bringing fence cutters to justice. He denied asking for contributions but expressed a belief in securing aid from unknown individuals.
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Discretionary Powers and Funding: N.R. Stegall emphasized that he would only use funds if given discretionary powers in their expenditure. The unexpended funds were in his possession, ready to be turned over to an authorized person.
This historical account provides insights into the complex social, economic, and political dynamics of Texas during the late 19th century, highlighting the impact of environmental challenges and the role of government in resolving conflicts.
