The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-10-07
BEEF CATTLE,
The New Source OF SappIy-IRereased Fa-
eilities for TransPoFlatiOn-The Grazing
Lands OF the Southwest.

eilitieS for TransP0ftatiOn-The Grazing
Lands OF the Southwest.
Those interested in the matter have
already noted the advent into our mar
kets of cattle from the far southwe est.
They have also observed that within the
past few weeks the supply from that
source has been largely increased, and
that Texan cattle now are no uncommon
sight in Northern cities. This fact is
due to the completion of new railroads
for bringing the cattle eastward, prom
lnent among which roads is the Kansas
Pacific, which was opened for through
business and travel on the Ist of Sep
TENDER. 1t is pretty certain that the
vast plains of the west and southwest,
which used TO be pat down on our maps
as the Great American Desert" are TO
be, at no distant day. the stock raising
region of the United States. The sug-
gestion as TO the purpose to which these
lands can be put seems TO us to lie in
the fact that they maintain millions of
wild buffalo. Why can they not equal
ly well maintain bseves? The grasses
are luxuriant, and IN a good part of the
territory there are streams, particularly
in the fall, winter and spring, at which
cattle may quench their thirst. The
winters are so short and mild that cat
tie Craze throughout them, thus dispens-
ing with the use of hay. The area of
these unoecupied lands is vast beyond
The conception of any one who has not
had the means of personal observation.
A large part of Kansas, Colorado, New
Mexico, Texas and Indian Territory, is
uninhabited yet by human beings, and
their millions of acres of rich plains are
untouched by the hand of civilization.
1t may be that cultivation and scientific
discoveries will make them suitable for
every agricultural purpose, though one
can hardly conceive of such thing now.
But they are adapted by nature for graz
ing, and for this purpose individual en-
terprise will doubtless first employ them.
The expense of raising cattle on such
lands is nominal, since the lands can be
had for a song, and the animals require
no care or attention. The time is APP
preaching when it will be found unprof-
table to raise cattle in the Eastern
States, where the lands are more Valua-
BILE for other purposes, and where the
hardest work of summer is devoted to
securing hay for winter use, and con-
slant care and expense are involved in
keeping stock through the inclemeut
seasons of winter and spring.
We venture the prediction that very
soon and ever thereafter the great cat
tle-growing district southwest of the
Missouri river will be the source of
beef supply for this country. Already
we have seen the advance guard of the
grand beef army in the stock yards in
this city, and their coming in the future
will be, though not altogether like the
"leaves in Vallambrosa," sufficiently nu-
merous, we hope, to make beef less
expensive luxury. On a recent trip over
the Kansas Pacific Railway we were
appraised of the fact that shrewd and en-
terprising men, in large numbers, are
turning their attention TO stock raising.
At Denver the cattle men were in the
ascendancy, although mining yet occu-
pies a good share of attention. The
rush for grazing lands was unprecedent-
ed-those fertile, well-watered plains
at the base of the mountains, which
have hitherto been neglected for the
more tempting allurements of silver
bricks. 1t would not be surprising if
the wealth of Colorado should yet be
found to be in the rich soil of her plains
equally with, if not more than in, the
argentiferous ores of her mountains
men who have lived in Colorado for
years, and have invested largely in min
ing, are now going extensively into
grazing. These Western men generally
have foresight, and are prompt to act iii
view of what they conceive to be the
coming money-making scheme. 1t is
quite plain that they believe the cattle
business to be the right one in which to
embark just at this time.
But Texas and New Mexico are now
the great source of cattle supply for that
region, and the rapidity with which the
shipments are coming forward should
Oh head
of cattle shipped over the Kansas Pacif-
ic Railway, from the commencement oil
the road up to September LIST, 1869, was
l5,416. The number shipped for the
year ending September 1st, 1870, was
So, 1853 head. Now that the road is open
through to Denver, it is estimated thai
the shipments during 1870 will reach
10000 head. The Fort Scott s. Gul
Railroad. which has now reached the
Indian Territory, also ships northwarC
immense numbers of cattle from the
Territory and from Texas. Many o
them of the Cherokee breed have fOunC
their way to this city. The Southern
Branch of the Union Pacific Railway
has also reached the Indian Territory il
the Neosho valley, and draws share o
the cattle trade. Competent judges es
innate that the shipments of Texas cat
tie next year will reach one million
head. When the vast grazing plains %
Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico and th'
Indian Territory shall be covered will
cattle, the shipments will be truly enor
nous.
The railroads which have been push
ed out in that direction are looking
mainly to this trade as a source of reve
nue.. Cattle trains take the place of fas
freight trains over our Eastern roads
having the right to the track next afte
passenger trains. The cars are well ar
ranged for stock purposes, and great at
| tention is paid to water and feed for thu
animals. Immense stock yards hav'
been fitted up at the stations where cat
tie are received, in places adjacent t.
| good water and abundant feed. At Alb
/ ilene, favorite point at which the Tex
as droveFs strike the Kansas Pacific
there are said to be at present over 100,
600 head of cattle, many of which viii
be taken to Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, ant
other States, to be fattened for the mar
ket.-DetrOI Post.
|