The Osceola times., 1882-10-07
CATTLE DETECTIVES.
They Recover Sixty-Seven Head Of Cattle
In One week-Particulars of a Novel
IRusipess

In One Week-Particulars OF novel
Business.
st. Louis fost-Dispatch.
Very few people outside of the trade
have any idea of the magnitude of the
live stock business in this country or of
the manner of which it is carried on on
large scale They have heard of the great
size of some of the Western or South
western ranches, and of the reckless rid
ing of the ubiquitous cowboy, but at that
point their information ends. The read
ers of the Post-Dispatch will learn for
the first time that the great herding dis
tricts of the Southwest are obliged to
keep detectives, or inspectors as they call
| them, at the great cattle receiving and
shipping points, in order to look out for
and recover strayed or stolen cattle.
There are two of these inspectors station
ed now at the National Stock Yards in
/ East st. Louis. One of them, Mr.. Ill. 5.
Lane, represents what is known in stock
parlance as Cherokee Strip" and the
other, Mr. J. X. Plumber, the Panhandle
District A reporter of the Post-Dis-
patch met Mr. Lane yesterday afternoon
at the yards and had considerable con-
versation with him relative to his rather
novel business of cattle detective. Mr.
Lane explained that he was the agent OF
the "Stockmen's Association of the
CHEROKEE STRIP"
The Cherokee strip isan irregular-shaped
tract of country in the extreme northwest
portion Of Indian Territory. On this
strip are numerous white ranchmen with
their almost countless herds. They pay
to the Cherokee tribe of Indians an an.
nual tax of so much per head for the
privilege ofgrazing on the grounds. There
are l3l firms in the Stockmen's Associa
ton of the "Cherokee Strip" and l7(
brands. There are even greater number
in the Panhandle Association. The Pan.
handle country is that portion of North
western Texas which juts up into the In.
dian Territory and adjoins Arizona
There are still other associations of ranch.
men in Colorado, Montana and Wyoming
but as few of their cattle come to st
Louis they do not keepan inspector here
The Cherokee Strip folks keep an in
spector also at Caldwell, kas., at Kansas
City and at st. Joseph.
In Chicago there are no inspectors fol
the reason that all the Southwest cattl,
that 90 there are obliged TO go through
st. Louis, Kansas City or st Joseph. The
various stock associations have each 8
brand book" which shows the exact
marking of all the cattle Oh that par
ticular range. The reporter inspected
THE BRAND BOOK
of Mr.. Lane and found it contained l7(
different brands. With these brands o
course the inspector is as familiar al
with the alphabet, and he is able tC
spot steer instantly which has one o
his brands upon it. Mr.. Lane was in un
commonly good spirits yesterday becaus,
he had this week made a haul of no les,
than sixty-seven good cattle--the largest
haul ever known in st. Louis or Kansas
city. Mr. Lanes method of prodecure is
ing he visits the pens and looks over all
the long-horns that have come in during
the night. When the day trains come in
he is at the chute to watch the unloading
He claims that he can pick out a steer
instantly that does not belong to the
party controlling the shipment. When
such cattle are found they are immediate
ly removed, or "cut out" as it is called
and the shipper has to stand the loss
The "cut out" cattle are sold by the in.
spector and the money forwarded to the
owner of the brand. Sometimes it will
happen that ranchman will ship with
his cattle one or two of the cattle of q
neighboring ranch, and do so without in.
territorial dishonesty, but this cannot
happen often or in large numbers. 1t il
impossible for a man to herd up sixty-fve
cattle belonging to other ranches on his
range and not know it. Besides there il
in every district an animal
ROUND UP
or general exchange of estrays. The
"round up" is of itself one of the most
interesting features of the live stock busi.
ness. 1t takes place early in the spring
On an agreed day all the ranchmen of q
district proceed together to one ranch
The cattle of that ranch are then driven
in and each ranchman picks out any that
may belong to him. Then they all pro.
ceed to another ranch, driving each his
own bunch of cattle. So they continue
until all the ranches have been visited
and the "round up" is completed. In the
Cherokee Strip there are three dis.
tricts, and the "round up" in each is
commanded by a regularly appointed
captain.
No cattle are ever "cut out of a ship
ment by an inspector if the shipper can
show bill of sale for them. If ne can't
show bill of sale the cattle are seized as
before said. 1t might be supposed that
shippers would contest the "cut OUT
business, but Mr.. Lane says that he has
never had any trouble that way. All live
stock men understand the inspection
business, and they know the risk they
run of detection if they behave crooked
Besides, it is useless and expensive to
! x,r,tI IT