DEADLINE IN WYOMING

In the 1880s Wyoming was all open range.  The cattlemen claimed it and when sheepmen began to move in, conflicts arose.  A meeting of the two factions was held at the Johnson County Courthouse on February 1, 1908.  the end result was to plow a narrow furrow to mark a line , which the sheep would not be allowed to cross.  A contract to that effect was drafted and signed by both groups.  Richard Young and Ike Stotts were appointed to establish the line, and it was to be known as the DEADLINE.  A man by the name of Carrolton plowed the furrow over the Powder river prairie.  for a time the agreement was respected and conflicts avoided.  Eventually they arose once again.