Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1879-05-10
THE TEXAS CATTLE TRADE.


Tnere is no interest in the New West
thai il of more importArce than the Texas
cattle trade From It's tir-t opening, At The
close Of the late war, to the present time, it
has been one Of great prUhtableness to all
engaged ia is. The fret yer rs If Its incep-
,ion iortun,s were made 9th wonderful ra-
pidity. The "Long Horns" Of Texas
roamed wild in herds Of thousands upon the
broad plains Of Texas much the same ~ the
buffalo upon the prairies Of the West. BuS
lev cattle kings ever knew the extent Of
their herds. or branded all their cattle. 1t
was a common thing in the early days OF
the ''drive" for men to leave Texas with
1000 cattle and arrive in Kansss with 1000
to 5000. Many cattle teing unbranded.
mavericks were numerous and common
property, and we're corralled much the
same ~ the buffalo Of the west. Those were
halcyon days in the Texas cattle trade.
Long Horns' were plenty and cheap, and
everybody made money. IL vas, therefore,
bat = few ysars before the vast herds Of
Texas cattle were much thinned BY the
heavy drafts upon them. Then came the
opening up of Texas by the railroads, and
immigraaIs hocked to It's fertile fields, and
legitimate farming gradually crowded the
cattle interest toward the ironiisr. Grain
and wheat, nov, in many places, superse-
ded the wild herds of cattle. Yet The pasture
lands Of the State we're immense, and cattle
numerous, hence the reduction in the supply
was slow, yet sure, as 1t vii be seen BY the
following fsures: In 1872, the drive Was
estimated At 5000 o; i. 1876, four years
lste:, the drive was 1916, S8S; in 1877, 167,-
426, and in 1878, Is 900; falling of Of
50 per cent. in the past six year,. Why
this great reduction ? Is il that the cattle
of rexus are seeking new markets. or thai
the home supply is being reduced While
it must be admitted that . great many more
cattle are shipped TO g.. Louis and Chicago
markets direct from Northern Texas than
four years ago, il is we'll to bear in mind
that . very large per cent. Of those cattle
figure in our "divss" from southern Texas.
The New Orleans and Havana trade has,
perhaps, expanded . litile, but to no note
worthy extent. There Can b but one solu-
ton 10 tns 10 8; {. g., the rapid filing up OF
Texas BY settles, advance Of it, agriculture
and formation of Texas cattle raising into
more legitimate busin-ss. In conversation
lev days since with Mr.. r L Dunnsn, .
prominent Texas cattle man, that gentleman
sid: 1.-The Texas cattle trade, sir, is under
gong rapid change. L. Is becoming .
more ltgi INA businass, and the large herds
must decrease each year. The continued in
crease in the S,ate's population 10 forcing
the cutting up Of large pastures, and men
can't afford to raise small herds Of such cat
tie - We have been sending you, for the
price. F.rmera, therefore, are paying more
Affection TO other crops. Along the Gsuda-
lupe river, for one hundred miIss back, .
few years ago, il was one Of the grsndess
pasture fields in the STATE. But for the pass
tso years much OF this land has bssu taken
up By settlefs, and perhaps one half Of this
pasture il occnpied BY farmen. Leading
catils men zee aud appreciate the inevitable
change that - coming over the trade, and
are trying to prepare for il BY breediag up
their stock. A great deal Of money has
been spent in Texss the past two or three
years in bl oded bulls. The mortality
among them, however. especially in the
southern part Of the State, has been terrible.
Yet our cattle men are persev~ring. and
what they lose this year they will replace
the next. We must raise . better clsss Of
cattle; It is our only salvation. The drive
this year Will be about the same q in 1878,
but will Be largely composed Of young ami
mails: l look. however, for great rsduc-
ton in the number Of cattle for the market
out Of the State next year. The home de-
mand 10 increasing, While the supply Of
cattle in the State is gradually decreasing
the surplus cattle having nov been pretty
we'll worked of III .ys City Sentinel