This claims to be a true story. It shows the deep concern the liberals
have for all objects. To leave 50,000 cattle guards without a purpose
would be unthinkable. They could at least be recycled into something else
productive.
For those who have never traveled to The Great West, cattle guards are
horizontal steel rails placed at fence openings on Hiways and farm roads
to prevent cattle from crossing. The bovines will not step on the guards,
because they fear getting their hooves caught between the rails. I needed
to make that clear in order for everyone to appreciate the following TRUE
story.
I only differ slightly here, but the REAL reason "the
bovines" and horses, will not put their feet on the rails, is because
of the unknown bottom BELOW the rails. The space between the rails, in a
sense a hole, and the bottom, is what really bothers them. If in fact,
they can walk on the rail, or on the rail support (if it is too wide) they
will quickly learn to get across to the other side.
President Clinton received a report that there were over 100,000 cattle
guards in Colorado on government lands. Because Colorado ranchers
protested his proposed changes in grazing policies, he ordered Secretary
of Interior Bruce Babbitt to fire half of the guards immediately.
Before Babbitt could respond, and presumably straighten him out,
Colorado's Congresswoman Pat Schroeder intervened with a request that
before any were fired they be given six months of retraining.
