The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-05-01
SPRING CATTLE DRIVING.
Extent Of tho Western Trnde-ThIH SEN
sons "Driye"--Aimost n Halt Million
Teans Deeyrs Coming TO Market.

sons "Driyc"--Aimost n Halt Million
Texns DecvrS Coming to Market.
The live stock trade of the Southwest
has become matter OF millions. Tho
herd is king. Drovers and "cow-boys "
go about with mastery swagger, and
are the most popular MS well as the best
envied class to be found. While tho
average herd runs from two to three
thousand head, there arc those TINT
number from twenty-five thousand to
seventy-fve thousand, and the owners
Of such, like Abram OF old, may be set
down as decidedly erich in CATTLE" 1t
is now getting to be tho time of year for
the annual "drives" from Texas into
Kansas and Colorado, preparatory to
marketing beeves for the Eastern trade.
From April until November the "trail :"
fairly swarms. The cattle hayo been
Grounded up" rs soon rs the young
grass begins to start, and assorted nc
cording to their brand. This is neces.
sary because while feeding through the
winter they roam ut large, and the herds
stray apart and get mixed. After the
"round up" each drover takes his own
to separate Grange" or pasture. Then
the process Of "cutting out" takes
place. This is the selection Of such US
nre designed for the market. Tho next
step is to get the "long-horns" upon
the road or "trail." When once upon
the way they follow on without much
trouble. The greatest danger is from
"stanpeding" during storms, or
through the efforts Of highwaymen, who
often take this method to steal cattle.
A herd Of two or three thousand upon
the trail often presents a fine sight,
tramping in Indian file, and stringing
out for distance Of q milo or more over
tke prairie.
When the cattle are fairly upon the
trail they are allowed to feed along
leisurely upon the spring grasses. The
distance to be made in these "drives
is generally from $50 to $50 miles, and
it takes from thirty to forty days. When
they reach the vicinity Of n shipping
point they are often herded out several
weeks until good prices prevail then
they arc hurried forward 10 Kansas City,
Chicago, st. Louis, and other points.
Middlemen are always on hand, and
herds frequently change hands en- route,
and more commonly at tho shipping
point. Then there aro numberlcss COM
mission agents who undertake to
negotiate sales. The most Of these are
located ut Kansas City. which figures
largely in this trade. Her stock yards
are busy scene from June to Docem.
bcr. In 1871 there were received 120.-
1927 head OF cattle in 1872, 236, ,S02 in
1878, 227, 100 in 1874, 207, 7,069, and in
1875, 169,391. While tho number Inst
year was less than. previous years, the
cattle wero better aud brought higher
price. The total receipts OF tho past five
years havo been over one million head,
a large share Of which were roshippcd
or driven to Chicago, st. Louis, and
points in the Mississippi valley, for
beef.
The annual drives from Texas run
from $4,000 to 100000 head. AL OF
these do not go into market, but work
their way across the plains into Colorado
md Wyoming. The stockmen in these
Territories grvo good deal of care to
breeding and improving the quality OF
cattle. The old buffalo ranges have
gradually been encroached upon, and
stock thrives and fattens so well that the
herds now grazc over large portion Of
the plains, and the principal shipping
points are in the very midst Of what was
not long ago designated rs tho Great
American Desert. The numerous springs
and crooks arc found to give sufficient
water, aud the buffalo grass throughout
tho entire year is sufficiently nutritious
to keep the herds looking fat and sleek.
It is now ten years since Texas cattle,
or " the long horns" began to appear in
largo numbers on the Northern markets.
Since 1867 over 100000 head have
been driven into Kansas, and shipped
to Chicago and ST. Louis. Large num-
bers also have been herded in western
Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska and Wyom.
ing. In looking over our future beef sup.
ply, good judges place tho number Of
cattle now in Texas at $500, 900, with
half rs many more upon the Western
plains, distributed as follows Western
Kansas, 100000; Colorado, 100000
$4,000; Wyoming, 100000
Now Mexico, 15O, 900.