Soapweed
Well-known member
There was a meeting last evening on the subject of property rights. It was a well-attended, well-organized function. I commend the two ladies who put on the event, for their research and for presenting the information to all interested spectators.
Basically, they shared their findings that there is a world-wide movement to "preserve" large natural occuring areas, such as the Sandhills. Ranchers are already the world's best environmentalists. We understand that if we take care of the land, it will take care of us. We don't "need" (or want) outside "help" from bueaucrats and do-gooders. This country is much better off than it was when my great-granddad and his brothers walked into this area in 1885 and filed on their homesteads. As one old rancher pointed out, "Even the worst management is better than no management."
Ted Turner is buying up large ranches and turning them into buffalo preserves. Basically, his tracts of land come under the heading of "no management" and the once great historic cattle ranches are becoming ruined. Parts of them are over-grazed and parts are under-grazed. Buffalo don't have very big brains, and with no cross fences and no management on these large parcels of land, the buffalo are just aimless wanderers with no purpose.
The buffalo of old are what tore up this country to the extent that it was called "The Great American Desert" in the mid 1800's, and was shunned by the early day settlers. After the buffalo were killed off, the "sandhills" were naturally allowed to rejuvenate. They grassed over, and cattle were introduced. They thrived, as did the ranchers who took care of the cattle. Barbed-wire came into being, fencing became possible, and good management prevailed. The Nebraska Sandhills evolved into one of the best cattle-producing areas of the world. Where cattle thrive, so do wildlife and birds of the air. It is a great situation.
If something isn't broken, why is there some bureacrat always trying to "fix" or change things, just to justify their existence? The Nature Conservancy is another example of an unwanted, unneeded entity. The
"easements" that they are willing to pay for, become a burden on the actual land-owners when all the dust settles. These easements are usually bonding "in perpetuity" which means "forever". They are a cloud on a real-estate title from then on. Money lenders take all of this into consideration, and pull in their horns because of it.
At the meeting, it was brought up that North Dakota has a law on their books that easements can only be in force for ten years, before it becomes necessary to re-negotiate. This looks to me to be an ideal law. Some easements are probably for the good, but if they would have a "window of opportunity" to be re-negotiated, they would be a lot more desirable.
As one of the meeting coordinators poined out, "It's a good thing the early settlers didn't tie up the land with easements back over a hundred years ago. Railroads, power lines, highways and cell phone towers could never have been built."
Conditions are always evolving. It is best to not get locked into situations where there is no way to change when different circumstances make change a necessity.
Basically, they shared their findings that there is a world-wide movement to "preserve" large natural occuring areas, such as the Sandhills. Ranchers are already the world's best environmentalists. We understand that if we take care of the land, it will take care of us. We don't "need" (or want) outside "help" from bueaucrats and do-gooders. This country is much better off than it was when my great-granddad and his brothers walked into this area in 1885 and filed on their homesteads. As one old rancher pointed out, "Even the worst management is better than no management."
Ted Turner is buying up large ranches and turning them into buffalo preserves. Basically, his tracts of land come under the heading of "no management" and the once great historic cattle ranches are becoming ruined. Parts of them are over-grazed and parts are under-grazed. Buffalo don't have very big brains, and with no cross fences and no management on these large parcels of land, the buffalo are just aimless wanderers with no purpose.
The buffalo of old are what tore up this country to the extent that it was called "The Great American Desert" in the mid 1800's, and was shunned by the early day settlers. After the buffalo were killed off, the "sandhills" were naturally allowed to rejuvenate. They grassed over, and cattle were introduced. They thrived, as did the ranchers who took care of the cattle. Barbed-wire came into being, fencing became possible, and good management prevailed. The Nebraska Sandhills evolved into one of the best cattle-producing areas of the world. Where cattle thrive, so do wildlife and birds of the air. It is a great situation.
If something isn't broken, why is there some bureacrat always trying to "fix" or change things, just to justify their existence? The Nature Conservancy is another example of an unwanted, unneeded entity. The
"easements" that they are willing to pay for, become a burden on the actual land-owners when all the dust settles. These easements are usually bonding "in perpetuity" which means "forever". They are a cloud on a real-estate title from then on. Money lenders take all of this into consideration, and pull in their horns because of it.
At the meeting, it was brought up that North Dakota has a law on their books that easements can only be in force for ten years, before it becomes necessary to re-negotiate. This looks to me to be an ideal law. Some easements are probably for the good, but if they would have a "window of opportunity" to be re-negotiated, they would be a lot more desirable.
As one of the meeting coordinators poined out, "It's a good thing the early settlers didn't tie up the land with easements back over a hundred years ago. Railroads, power lines, highways and cell phone towers could never have been built."
Conditions are always evolving. It is best to not get locked into situations where there is no way to change when different circumstances make change a necessity.
