San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-09-07
CATTLE INDUSTRIES.
-. Early History Of Cattle In Amsrica-Dsvel.
~" opment and Progress.

'' opmsnt and Progress.
Wallace's Monthly summarizes an
;0tsresting review of our cattle indus
,r;as by Hon. J. B. Grinnell:
Tn 1910, four COWS and bull were,
after long and tedious passage by sail
ina vessel, landed in Virginia from Ire
land. These were the first domestic
animals seen in America, and the time
was but twelve years before the Pilgrim
Fathers touched Plymouth Rock. Two
wears after their landing there was an
;mportation. From 1851 to 1886 Capt.
John Mason imported from Denmark
into New Hampshire the animals which,
according to Mr.. Charles l.. Flint, whom
Mr.. Grinnell regards as high authority,
laid the foundation of the native stock
of New England. The stock, owing to
various causes, did not receive good
care in the early days, however, and
consequently degenerated. But colon
ial agriculture made an early effort for
the increase of cattle. Oxen were bred
for activity and strength, and were of
more utility in clearing forests than
horses, and on meeting with casualty
among stumps, could with economy be
utilized as beef. It is the common
opinion that the Devons predominated
in our early history, combining hardi-
hood with good milking qualities.
When matched for the yoke they were
fast walkers, and it was on incident of
the early times, even as late as a hun
bred years ago, that wedding trips were
made by New England pioneers north,
on sleds drawn by oxen. The first boat
of the farmer and the largest represen-
tation of personal property was in his
cattle, and from the Genesee Valley of
New York to Northern Ohio and west,
no farmer is deemed to have been sue
cessful if not owning herd or num-
Der of cattle proportional to his acres,
and suited to the pail and shambles.
Our ancestors imbibed the spirit of
the Old World, and when possessed of
wealth, often used it to improve the
stock, by judicious crossings. Mr..
Grinnell pays tribute to Daniel Web
ster, Henry Clay and others who gave
attention to the matter of improving
our cattle, and makes especial mention
of Samuel Thorne, of New York, bold
purchaser of Shorthorns and the sue
cessful breeder, who enjoyed the proud
distinction of having sent back to Eng.
land improved stock, which opened the
eyes of princely breeders to the posi-
bilities of this country.
He then speaks at considerable length
of the various breeds which have been
introduced, betraying preference for
the Shorthorn stock, and coming to the
matter of distribution of cattle over the
country, says that our corn states, nota-
bly, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri, where
cattle are ripened by six and ten
months full corn feeding, have few
herds where Shorthorn blood does not
predominant.
In the eastern and middle states Dew
ons and mixed natives, crossed for milk
ers, are yet in large majority; and
none of the bloods, with rare exceptions
bring as much money for breeding ami
mails as those of Kentucky, Illinois and
Iowa. The Spanish Texas stock are
located in all the southwest, and have
found their way to California, Oregon
and Washington Territory, gradually
drifting into Kansas, Missouri, Ne.
braska and the territories north. Their
vitality is remarkable, and the heifers,
apt to breed in two years, have in
creased in such a ratio that Texans and
their descendants are found in the To-
calities above named to number from
100000 to 100000. The late in.
fusion of new blood is fast shortening
the legs and rounding up the cattle, so
that traces of the original stock are rap
idly being obliterated.
What all our older states aspire to do,
Mr.. G. says further on in the paper
from which we quote, is to raise the
best ste ok for the dairy, obtain a good
price for surplus beef, and attract the
West to become purchasers of their fine