The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1873-09-11
no neRE OF II.

OC q oousSS Va SA'SA w Wv
owner that his beevcs are driven into
the Mexican country faster than he can
get even by stealing from his neighbors
but it delights the thrifty farmer of Sa-
line county that the long horns may be-
come less, even if they are stolen by the
f" hcathenish greasers." Experience has
settled this A direct Texas cattle traf-
&c never benefited Salina or Saline coun-
ty enc particle. There was for several
seasons, during the continuance Of tho
trade at this place, apparently . large
amount of hustle and activity in busi-
ness, which inclined merchants and 9th
ers to work for its retention. This flush
of business, however, was not healthfnl.
It was found that Salina was Boosting OF
q ford vigor not its own" Its effect
upon the county was like that of poor
whisky upon the brain-exciting and
passably pleasurable at first, succeeded
by a season of stupor and lifelessnsss.
At its introduction, tradesmen were de-
lighted at tho prospect of making mon
ey many farmers gave up raising corn
and wheat to speculate in buying and
wiutering cattle; lawyers, ministers,
doctors, school teachers and mechanics
fancicd that they could kick themselves
ont of tho drudgery which usually en-
veIoped their avocations, and fondly i'm
agined they were permitted to take this
tide at a floed which was to lead them on
to fortune. The cattle mania seemed
TO possess all, and was the paramount
question under discussion. Salina and
Saline county enjoyed the benefits and
experienced tho disadvantages Of tho
trade for several seasons, and then 1t
departed, probably never to be regained.
A careful scrutiny of the gains and los
ses reveals: gains, o; losses unlimited.
While the trade was here the town was
filed With desperadocs, and to them was
granted the privilege Of breaking every
law respected b. good and peaceful
society. These desperadses are ccncom,
itants Of the trade. Where you find the
one you will find the other. Abilene
thinks SO now, and SO will Ellsworth in
the future. Tho uncarthly vel, the open Ii
centiousness, the cowardly murders and
UNPARALLELED ruffianism have accompani'
ed the "trail from Texas to Wichita-to
salina, to Newton, to Abilene and to
Ellswo rth. 1t was, then, with sigh Of
great relief that our good people bade
adieu to these characters.
The merchants who supposed they
were profting largely by the trade found
at the conclusion of it only bad debts to
take the place of thousands of dollars
worth of goods. Farmers who had sup
posed that Kansas winters would allow
of little shelter, and depasturing upon
Drowned prairie grass, greedily entered
into contracts for wintsring the herds,
and seemingly awoke in the spring only
to find hides and bleached bones to turn
over to the parties of tho second part.
All parties reckoned without their host
when they supposed that fortune was
within their grasp by specializing in Tex
as cattle. This thoy found to be so after
relying upon uncertain markets, and ex'
perimenting in the matter of acclimating
almost an impossibility) an animal com
posed of more horn and bone to the
SCARE foot than enters into the compost
ton ofany other domestic animal living
Few, if any, Of our citizens and fasm
ers and spectators realized one cent
profit from the trade, while many were
thro wn into hopeless bankruptcy thro
its ins:rumentality. With shudde
they recall their experiences in this cat
tie business, and wish no moro of it. 4
man cannot DO found who claims that b.
has made money ont of it, and few cal
be found who would desire to see tn
trade restored to our county and city
1t has been fully demonstrated to OF
mind that tho Texas cattlo trade will i'm
part no healthy and stable growth to tn
town that has it and fosters it. We ar
likewise convinced that the farming com
munity settles down to thriftiness, t
solid improvements and to general prot
pcrity much quicker without it than wit
it. To prove the former assertion refe
to the paper growth Of Newton and Al
ileno during the time they were "catt!
ccnters" and their subsequent backset'
and then recall the dullness and inacti'
ity in business which for . season SUI
ceeded the departure of the longhor
trade from Salins. In proof Of the la
ter point look to the vast untitled an
unsettled fields Of Texas, from whcns
:. flows this trade, and look upon II
steady and substantial improvement
Z COMMITTEES Of Kansas, like our own, sint