WSP00310

• File Number: 8407.500
• Description: Platte River Basin - River Basin General Publications - Missouri River
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 1/1/1964
• Author: R E Hardie
• Title: History of Conservation in the Missouri Valley
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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GRASS, CREAKING WAGONS, TRAILING LON9HORNS 35

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written law among western men that water was the right of
the passing herd. This led to hundreds of range wars; the bit-
terest of which was along the Little Missouri River near Medora,
North Dakota, when the colorful De Mores tried unsuccessfully
to control the river for miles.

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If one analyzes the ancient customs of Mexico and Yuca-
tan he notices that no one really owned the land, and the corn
farmer retained only one-third of his crop. Thus he was forced
by law to recognize obligations to others in his farming opera-
tions, The native Indian in the Missouri valley, before his con-
tact with newcomers, recognized that his tribe, or the stranger
as guest, had a welcome interest in the corn he raised, the stag
he butchered or the fish he caught.

The ancient Hebrew civilizatioh of which history has definite
record evidently believed in private ownership, quote, "pros-
pered under his own vine and fig tree." Nevertheless the Jewish
law further insisted, aside from the tithe, that all gleanings, the
corners of the fields, and a few grapes be left in each harvest
for strangers. Thus, the Hebrew farmer evidently recognized
responsibilitY to' the public.

United States laws came from Rome by way of the Anglo-
Saxon route and are therefore of pagan origin. As an avowed
Christian nation its citizens must admit that all posterity has
a vital interest in the future. Man is only temporal steward of
this rich Missouri Valley. The water rights problem and also
the degree, if any, that the public can dictate to the individual
in conservation is not at this date fully settled.

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Again the Indian idea of law did not clearly distinguish
between branded cattle and game. Strife was everywhere and
led to race hatred and wars. The government closed the reser-
vations so it was often impossible to trail cattle up from the
South, and later ordered all cattle grazing on reservations be
rounded up. An order issued August 26, 1885, applied to the

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