The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-09-17
CATTLE TRADE OF THE WEST.
The Increased transportation OF Trans
mississippi stock

AAG AnIASnsGA LEAmG1
mississippi stock.
A large proportion of the cattle from
Texas are driven westward into the ter
ritOries. There they fatten for the mar
ket, and provide beef for the growing
cities and towns, mining regions, and
military posts. It is thought that the
entire drive from Texas this year into
Kansas will number over 600, 600 head.
Perhaps one-fourth of these go into
Colorado and Wyoming and westward
70 Utah, while most of the balance seek
the eastern market. At this season of
the year one viii be struck with the ap-
pearauce of the numerous and fine
looking herds grazing along the Arkan-
sas valley from Wichita as far west as
Sargent, and thence scattered at inter
walls to the foot of the mountains. AS a
sample of the size of these herds /
might mention that a list of fOrty-three
herds in the vicinity showed total of
50, 908 head of cattle. While it is claim
ed that the drive to Wichita this year
viii not exceed $50, 900 head, not much
over one-haf what it was last year,
some of the other towns on the line of
the railroad having been found more
accessible for shipment, yet it is notice
able that the quality of the stock is APP
parently much better than that of form
er seasons.
The further the focks get westward
the greater their tendency to increase in
size. In the vicinity of Hugo, on the
Kansas Pacific, about 100 miles beyond
the eastern borders of Kansas, some of
the old plainsmen have formed a stock
company, and control from 90, 900 to
30, 900 head. There are huge herds also
near Ellsworth and Bunker Hill. Down
on the Arkansas, near Fort Lynn, the
children of Kit Carson and one or two
of his old comrades own herds of from
5000 to 5000 head. On the Laramie
plains, northward, Creighton & Co. have
a herd of $4,000 cattle; J. W. Tiff,
u, 600; z. Creighton, 5000; TAYLOR,
Gaylord & Co., 5000 There are over
twenty herds, numbering from l 200 to
5000 each. In the parks of Colorado
extensive focks will also be found.
Throughout the middle and southeast
ern portions of Kansas large amount
of stock is now being driven eastward,
the cattle being allowed to Craze along
the way. The drovers will soon be
hurrying forward their herds, however,
Tor feed is short, and it will cost too
much to winter stock IN Kansas, owing
to the short corn crop. Where last
N'ALNNA N-lO4C nCAC bAObSdunE Vi CdHblE
scattered throughout Kansas, and the
winter before still greater numbers, to
fatten on the surplus grain, this year
there will be very few. The full corn
cribs of Missouri ana Illinois tempt the
drover that way. and in the spring he
will be nearer the great markets. There
are various estimates of the numbers
that have been wintered in Kansas in
former seasons, but the range is from
100 600 to It's, 900.
You viii, at this time of the year. see
the Colorado spectators prying their
way into the broad pastures or by-ways
of Kansas and Nebraska, buying Up
here few and there a few in an appa
rently indifferent way, as if the cattle
We're hardly worth their care getting
Them at lOw-down prices, and finally
marching with a great herd back toward
the mountains to double and quadruple
on their purchases. Just now stock at
some points rules fabulously low. You
can pick out Texan heifers from a herd
at Sc to IS per head, COWS at SO, and
sheep at sixty cents. Beef cattle have
been sold at Waehita at five cents per
pound on foot.
The Kansas city market has for the
past two or three years held a controIl-
ing position with regard TO the Texas
cattle trade. This is a great distribut-
ing point, and stock men seek it from
Illinois, Miss ouTi, Iowa and Indiana.
making it during the season their point
for selecting and shipping stock into
their several states TO feed, or to the
Chicago and st. Louis markets for beef.
There are extensive yards into which
the various railroads run, aud good CD
pOrtunities for shipment. A large pack
ing interest has also sprung up here. A
direct connection with Texas has lately
been obtained, and the business of for
wardipg stock directly from their native
pastures to this point has been under
| taken to some extent. But this expert
ment has already, it is claimed, proved
| unsatisfactory. The cattle rarely attain
a good marketable condition in Texas.
and when they do, rail transit over such
! long distances reduces them to a condi-
l ton unit for market when they reach
| here. AS the production of cattle is
one OF the main interests of the great
state OF Texas, whose herds are counted
by millions, its pastures will doubtless
for. years continue to furnish the west
with beef. The cattle will be driven
as formerly across the plains, fattening
| as they go, and reaching the railroads
| by the trails which for months have been
alive. with the long horns, " and taken
to Kansas city for distribution into the
various states. The supplies which the
different markets require, and the pro-
portion going into the various states,
may be calculated from the following
! figures, which show the shipments of
cattle eastward from Kansas City during
last year Hannibal and st. Joe rail-
road, 1858 st. Louis, Kansas City
and N. railroad, 82,674; Missouri
Pacific railroad, 16, 142 driven out,
! IS, AL Shipments were also made by
| various other roads, showing a total of
| 227, 6S6 head. Those via the Hannibal
and st. Joe road went to the Chicago
market by the other railroads to the
! st. Louis market while those driven
out were distributed to large extent TO
| feed throughout Missouri and Illinois