Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-08-28
THE TENS CATTLE MiRr.
roDGE CITY. KANSAS. August. Isl


Iarned for this place, the traveller sees the
dwellings OF settlers all along the railroad
until Kinsley is reached; in fact until the
next station above Kjnsley is reached which
think is Spearyville, he will observe settle
menis. From there DO human habitations
in the country were seen. 1 was told that
the land was not III the market. Ktnsley Is
a handsome town. Ii appeared TO BE- so neal
and orderly, aud its buildings are pat up
with so much taste, that / was pleased with
The new Little town. Its two hotels presented
neat look and the cOI1 IN Cd ious brick school
building is creditable 10 the people L OBJ
served that from Spearyvllle. | think to
Dodge CITY, there is a handsome buffalo
grass region. ali free from Interim X ug weeds
and the most beautiful surface formation |
have seen In western Kansas. IL th- b Iffalo
grass land here as at and all around Iarued.
is me agricultural land, and | cannot see why
IL ls ho what a magnificent COZ otry this
Will be a. sCon rs the humble dwellings of
husba' Omen dot its eXpanse and relieve lis
mOnotoI Gus pTo>pect.
bout six miles TO the east of this town Is
Fort Dodge, but owing 10 the eleva ed roll
Ing prairie between The railroad AMI The fort
the latter cannOt be seen until the observer
Is some distance past il; then he can look
back aud see Its roofs gl!stening in the sun
shine, as the buildings are clustered on the
margin of the Arkansas river.
DODGE CITY
stands out alone on the treelesS plains. "
and II Is crowded together more than any
one of these little western towns that have
seen, as IL in It's growth It's iuts grail parts
had lustlnctIveiy assumed Jhs condition or
relationship necessary for mutual protection
and preservation, even mere. IN the country,
where, IN its tenantleSs extent. there is none
TO modest or make afraid. There Is nj a
FARMER about This place. no ground Guilt
waited save a garden in town, which. 1 am
told. furnished few vegetables To lha sup
port of the place. All eiibles beside are
brought from eastern growers.
Dodge CHy Is the salient point in what is
called
THE "DEAD LINE"
The Texas cattle quarantine line. Here the
Texas cattle drover may drive his herd ami
stop until November. when the DANGER 10
northern catpe from the Texas cattle feveris
past. and the cattle may be driven down into
counties. AT the present time, grazing with.
IN radius of y miles. a stock dealer eSti-
mates The Texas cattle at p 900 heal, aud
estimates those between Dodge City AMI
santa Fe, which may come to this place or
go eastward To some other market in the
state. at from Il 600 TO II 600 heal. Tdere are
two facts which make me doubt the accu-
facy OF my lnfOrmantS figures. The firSt is,
that various other Authorities place the num-
Der Of cattle hereabouts at from % O10 TO
t6.ooo head. The other is, Texas catlle are
hel Tor a higher price now, 1 am told, than
ever before. To deceive In the number really
heIeabOuts may be matter OF ceSSity,
therefore Heretofore yearlings could be
bought for - per head; now they are held at
$50 FOL females and $3.50 for males; two
year old steers are held al from Sl4 10 SI4 50
per capita, and three-yea Odds at from N11
held al from 80 10 ~ per head more IN Al In
past seasons. Toe increase in price has
greatly checked the sales. Tue Kansas herd
ers, especially, are holding off.
Dodge Guy in a business regard, il largely
drinking hOuSes; 1T has a large proportion OF
dance houses, also with some very good dry
goods and grocery houses. 1t is suppoSted
ny the Texas drovers, and the hun tiers who
go out on the plains every season for bison
and antelope. Here the lOns OK teams from
Fort Supply, Indian territory, come for
supplies
am quite sure that violate no rule OF
Proprlety, Lor depart from Any rule permit
ling freedom OF utterance, in saying that
Dodge City is
A WICKED LITTLE TOWN.
lEdted its character is so c.early and eyre
siously bad that one might conclude-were
ne evidence in these latter times positive c.
IS pos slbility-tdat IL was ma lSed .ur special
Pr.vidential punishment, uere those no
m ads, III regions remo:s from the restraints
OF moral, Civil, SOCIAL and law enforcing life,
the Texas cattle drovers-from the very tend
encies OF tLeir situa,ion-the embodiment
OF way waTdness and wantOnness, end the
Journey with their herds. And here they
lO:t'r and dissipate sometimes for months
and hare the boughten dalliances of fallen
women. Truly, the more cemonstrative pOr-
t1on OF Eumsnl at Dodge Ci gives now
no hopeful sign of moral improvement, 10
bright prospective or human exaltation. But
with Dodge City itself. IL Will not always be
towns OF Ray mOnd, Newton ani w chita,
further east in the state, will an,agonize
with nObler trait, at some future day, It's
present Outlandish condition.
The deniZen of little Dodge ty declares
with a ereat deal OF confidence that the reg ion
round about the place is good for nothing for
Agricultural purposes. He says the seasons
are too dry; that the country is good for moth
Ing but for grazing. The desire of his heart
is the father Of the statement. He Is content
with just what is, and he wants that to re-
main. He wants the Texas cattle drover and
his associations and surroundings, to be a
presence and a heritage forever. Bat he will
be disappointed. The Latural law OF popu-
latiOp, The natural and unchangeabl BILE cDndi-
ton OF humanity need, l. more powerful be-
cause IL Is more universal, and the hardly
busbandmen will appropriate those buffalo
grass plains for q more ben eicial use 1 can
rot see why the region around Dodge City is
not just as capable of growing graiu as that
oile Is only thirty miles back, at Kinsley,
ard there IL no doubt but what IL is.
Finally; the thought, that / am about to
turn my face and steps from Do ige city, and
Tor the regions where social refine menL, in
teilectual distinction, nobler Id. as anu inns,
generous sympathy and warm feeling
abound among the people as Distinguishing
traits and qualities, and are an unfaiiing
sOurce of sOiace and satisfaction to ALL
confess gives TO me an inward refreshing,
and a distinctive COnsc iousneSs OF gladneSs
To which my poor pen can give no apt utter
&uce. l.. $. A.
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