Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-04-11
Frem the Chicago stock yards thers

were recovered twertty head of cattle.
The proceeds of the sale of five of them
were remitted direct to the secretary Of
the association; of the other ffteert
head the monies received were remitted
direct to the owners of the cattle. From
the Kansas City stock yards were re-
covered 107 head, the proceeds of which
were tebnitted to your secretary; but in
addition to these large number of cat
tie were recovered and the monies re-
mitted direct to owners, of which we
have no record. I'm the st. Louis yards
no stray cattle belonging to this asso-
citation were found. Our inspector at
Dodge City cut from herds being driven
north through our country S2s head be-
longing to members of the association,
which were turned southwark across
the Arkansas river in the direction Of
their respective ranges; besides render
ing valuable service TO our eastern in
spectors by examining all herds of cat
tie shipped from Dodge City, and re-
porting lists of ssrays and all outside
brands to the secretary Of the associa-
ton. ~
In the matter of roundups the experI
iment tried last year, of having the fore
man of each ranch act as foreman of
the roundup on the range that he rep
resented, did not prove to be in all res
poets a success. Your committee would
suggest that the system be revised after
careful consideration by the roundup
committee, possibly by appointing one
man as foreman of each division to have
full charge, with the understanding that
he consult and advise with the foreman
of each, as to the best manner of work
ing said range.
1t is the unanimous opinion OF your
committee that the time has now come
when an entire change of policy should
be inaugurated regarding the driving
and holding of through Texas cattle
over and upon ranges occupied by men,
bers of the association. The state Of
Texas at recent session Of it's legisla!
ture, passed very stringent laws regard
ing the holding of cattle upon lands
other than those to which the parties so
holding could show title either by own
ership or lease; placing an annual rent
al value of from five to twenty cents per
acre upon all lands occupied for grazing
purposes, and making it a misdemeanor
punishable with heavy fines or impris-
onment, or both, for violation of these
laws, thereby declaring to the world
that so far ss the state of Texas is con-
cerned the day of free ranges and open
trails is thing of the past. In view of
the character of this legislation where
by Texas demands for her citizens such
absolute protection from invasion, and
attaches such high value to her grazing
lands, how can it be expected that we,
with our countless thousands of high
grade cattle, ranging over country al
ready crowded beyond its capacity,
should continue to permit the passage
Of hundreds of thousands Of through
Texas cattle annually over a trail
through the very heart of our grazing
country, leaving in their wake the germs
of disease which have already cost the
stockmen hundreds Of thousands of dol-
lars from the losses thereby incurred,
without any compensation or direct ben
eft, whatever to themp We are fully
convinced that the time has now come
when this character of business, carry
ing with it no compensating advantage
to us should close. We have spent years
of care and labor and have expended
thousands of dollars in the purchase of
high grade and thoroughbred bulls, to
bring our herds to theirpresent high de-
gree of improvement, by which very i'm
provertient they are rendered more sus-
ceptible to the contraction Of disease!
Hence our interests are endangered
more and more with each ensuing year;
and we see no reason why we should not
demand and receive the same protection
that is given to Missouri; Iowa; and The
eastern part of OUR own state. We claim
that the necessity for Dead Line no
longer exists, and asked that the law
now in force in this state, preventing
the driving or holding of through Texas
cattle through the section OF country
east of the present dead lire, should be
amended 30 as to make it apply to the
entire state. The business of driving
Texas cattle northward is now confined
to hardly more than score of men,
and these few men claim to make but a
small margin of profit on the purchase
and driving of their cattle to be sold in
this and other northern markets. As
suming this to he the fact, we believe 10
would be cheaper for the stockmen Of
this section of the country to pay the
drovers annually the profits realized by
them on the cattle driven, than to have
their interests constantly jeopardiZed
and suffer continued loss of valuable
cattle. There is no reason why the state
of Texas with her great system of rail-
roads, to-day, should not be placed in
the same category and on the same foot
ing with other states in tire expectation
and marketing of her products. 1t is
| probably not an exaggeration to say that
/ ninety five per cent OF the cattle raiser3
Of Texas do not wish TO drive their cat
| tie to this or other states. but prefer
making contracts for tie sale and deliy-
cry of their cattle at some railroad ship
ping point, either at home or at the
! point of destination and we believe it
| to be the almost unanimous op Mon OF
the northern cattle buyers, that it is a.
wise policy, and a positive economy as
matter of finance TO rave their cattle
shipped by rail and delivered to them
early in the season at slightly increas-
ed cost, thereby securing The benefits of
the growth and acclimatization of the
cattle for the entire season, rather than
have them driven over an open trail 4 Z
from two 10 five months In half starv-
ed condition, and arriving at their des-
tination late in the season, weak and
stunted, from which condition a large
percentage never entirely recuperate, en-
/ falling heavy losses by d3ath during the