The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1874-08-22
The Texas Cattle Drive.

We clip the following interesting re-
port from the Wichita, Kansas, Beacon
of the 18th instant:
The market during the past week has
exhibited both hopeful and doubtful
symptoms. The reports from eastern
markets We're daily changing and uil-
steady, still there has been more
lively inquiry than usual ut this season
for certain classes of butchers cattle,
and even for higher grade of heavy
fat steers, in small lots, for shipment.
Chicago has been represented in the
persons of members and agents OF com
mission firms, whose presence adds
considerably to the general interest
and activity Ofthe market st. Louis
has also been very creditably, though
not so numerously, represented, and
the feeling in favor of through con-
siyuments seem to gain strength.
From late through shipments we can
hear of small margins, and in some i'll
stances, handsome commissions being
realized.
On the range several important sales
have taken place, and several thousand
head of cattle will shortly change
hands. The bulk Of through Texas cat
tie, at the present moment, are located
south and west of Wichita, within Il
semi-circle of forty to fifty miles along
the Chikaski, me Three Nenneschas
and their tributaries. Within this cir
Gle can be found two-thirds of the en-
tire drive-not driven west. a drouth
unprecedented in severity, since the
opening of this trade, has been the
controlling element in designating the
present location of this vast amount Of
stock. At Great bend, on the Arkansas
river, and on the line of the A., Il. and
S. +. road, there is perhaps twenty
thousand head of through cattle. Not
outstanding assertions to the contra
ry, CofIeyville can only boast of four
or five thousand head.
One week ago we promised to furnish
a correct statement OF the amount OF
through cattle for the current season.
With this in view we put ourselves mi
communication with Mr. G. Ii. Stone,
of Caldwell, who, at his business place
there, has kept what has been consid-
cred truthful list or register of all
through Texas cattle, as they enter the
state at that point. Mr.. stones an
swer to our enquiries is that the regis
ter for the present year foots up l62, III
head. This being disposed of, we next
made application to Mr.. p. Montgom-
cry, stock agent of the A., Il. and S. f.
road, whose memorandum book shows
the number of through cattle located
in this section to he 10000 head. Moth
ing could be palmer than this: The
drive 1927. OF this number $4,000
located at Wichita, and $4,000 went
further on. A portion of them we still
find at Great bend, few at Russell, a
few more at Ellis, 10000 perhaps of the
SO, 600 to be accounted for, have been
driven into western territories, either
for contract purposes or to be wintered
in those regions. But it is evident that
half the entire drive oflS74 has already
been consumed and out of the way, so
far as this fall market is concerned.
This may surprise some who are not
in the habit of inqniring closely into
such matters. From Wichita. in addi-
ton to those driven west from Ellis
worth and elsewhere, many thousands
have already disappeared. Apart from
those, last week alone near 1000 were
sent back in the direction of Fort Sill,
|. IT,, for Indian purposes, while 5000
more were shipped by rail to Chicago,
st. Louis and Kansas City. This heing
the condition of our market up to the
first of August, although local Journals
may continue to state that the number
of cattle this fall is "about the same rs
last year." we us confidently say they
are not in sight, and that half the en-
tire drive il already used up.
When nearly 5000 are disposed Of in
one week in July and leave therange,
and when we learn of the $1,000 reg
istered for Wichita Oh their arrival,
only $4,000 are on the range now, and
fully 900 of them have been disposed
of, and are being held by the purchas-
ers until they can be introduced law
fully into Missouri and Illinois, hold
ers of this class of stock can afford to
look upon the picture. When hon
estly presented it is in one word as fol-
lows: $4,000 head against 1000, on
the LIST of August, one year ago.
The amount of cattle shipped from the
stock yards, as exhibited in the books
at the office for the months of May,
June and July inclusive, shows 5l7 cars
containing II, $50 head exceeding by
several thousand at this date the ship
ments of last year. J. is.
Urn S,o,,tharn firoiis ayh ibifad N I hi :