The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-04-26
CATTLE KINGS IN TEXAS.
Cowboys of the Past Who Now Count
Their Wealth by MilIiOns-Eapid Rise
from Poverty of the Richest Men i'm the
State-HertIs that Darlken the Land and
Fences that Enclose whole Counties. .fi

State-Herls that Darlken the Land and
Fences that Enclose whole Counties. 81
| From the Ne,c York Sun. .
The cattle king of Texas to-day is the
cowboy of ten years ago, settled down to a
soberer and less dashing style of life, with
a big bank account at Fort Worth, Austin,
or San Antonio, and a big herd in the Pan
handle or down on the coast. The enor-
NOUS increase in the value and number of
cattle during the last decade. has created
wealth among some cattle raisers similar to
that of the silver kings. The Mackays,
Floods, Sharons, and Tabors find many
counterparts here. 20 liis
The only difference is that cattle is a
certain source Of wealth, while mining is
but game of chance. OF all the drovers
who bought small herds ten years ago, there
is not one who has not accumulated money,
excepting of course the usual number who
have wasted their gains in riotous living,
or, as the Texans say, ''blowed their cows
over the gambling tables, Many young
men who came to this country after, the
war, or even during the seventies, without
a dollar, can now draw their checks for
hundreds of thousands.
The profits in cattle raising in this State
averaged 100 per cent. from 1872 to 1882,
and in many cases nearly double that
amount, for a steer that could be bought
for S12 then now sells for $50, and cow
that could be bought for $40 is worth
more than twice as much to-day. The
natural increase in herds is IS or so per
cent. The extension of the railroad system
has reduced the cost of transportation 80
per cent, and the difference goes into the
pocket of the producer, and not into that of
the consumer.
The Northwestern Cattle Raisers' Asso-
citation, which holds its monthly meetings
at Fort Worth, has 23S members, each one
of whom owns more than 1000 cattle, and all
together represent an aggregate Of ,400,-
600 head. There are several members who
have over $4,000 cattle, and twenty who
have over 10000. Recollecting that it
requires not less than ten acres of range for
each head of stock and that cattle are worth
an average of S22 head, the reader can
make his own calculation as to the wealth
of land and beef these men possess.
The richest man in Texas at the time of
his death was "0ld Maverick of San
| Antonio, who came to this country in 1857,
with nothing but brindle COW and dog.
He was direct from ireland, and landed at
Galveston, came up the country and settled
near San Antonio. He was a thrifty old
fellow, and claimed every COW that he found
running loose without a brand. During
the war, when most Of the men went into
the army and the women had all they could
do to watch the slaves and keep the weeds
ont of the garden patch, little attention was
paid to the cattle, and Maverick kept him
self busy placing his brand upon every stray
''critter'' he could find. He died few
years since, the richest banker in Texas and
the largest real estate owner in San Anto,
MO, leaving his large family Of children
more than 81 100000 apiece.
Even now, not only in Texas, but in
Wyoming and far-off Oregon, at the spring
round ups, when steer or cow is found
/ without brand, it is called Maverick as
testimonial of the old mans thrift.
The finest ranch in Texas, and that means
the finest in the world, belongs to Charley
Goodnight, 1t lies about in the centre Of
the Panhandle, on the head waters of the
Red River. Here are 100000 acres sur
rounded by $50 miles of barbed wire fence
with the best grass and water and shelter
in all the country. Col. Richard King
down in the southeastern corner of the
State, near Corpus Christi, has more cattle
than Mr.. Goodnight, but his range is not
so large, and the grass is not SO good fol
beef.
Mr.. Goodnight has improved his cattle
by the importation of the best foreign
breeds, and in the market, for beef or fol
stocking new ranches, his steers and cowl
bring from ten to fifteen per cent bettel
prices than those of any other ranchman ii
The State, His range Of 100000 acres wa:
bought within the last three years at prices
varying from 80 cents to 81 an acre, anC
could be sold for double that money to-day
Considering thereare but GA, 600 acres il
the State of Rhode Island. it will be real
iged that Mr.. Goodnight possesses what the
cowmen call ''quite little spot o land.
The experience of Mr.. Goodnight hai
been quite remarkable, but no more 81
than that of many of his neighbors. HI
was once before wealthy man, in the bank
ing business at Pueblo, Col, but invested
too largely in town lots, and the depression
that followed the panic of 1873 ruined him
During his prosperous days he had giver
his wife small herd of cattle and her pir
money came from beef When he faileC
in 1876 he found himself penniless, but h,
had his wife's cattle to fall back upon, anC
drove them down from Pueblo into thu
Panhandle of Texas, where they could ge
free range, and he could repair his shat
tered health by out door exercise. AT tina
time the Panhandle was a terra incogattd
and Goodnight is entitled to the glory Of
discovering its resources, His foresight
taught him that the day would come wheI
would have value, and going back II
Pueblo he prevailed upon John Adair, al
Irish millionaire, whose Colorado agen
Goodnight had been, to loan him the none,
to purchase land and more cattle
The result was a partnership arrange
ment, under which Adair furnished tn
funds and gave Goodnight third interest ii
the investment. Although it was but sever
years ago that the latter was "Aat broke,
he is now worth more than 81 900, 900, ant
often says there isn't enough money in al
Texas to buy him out. Adair comes owe
from Dublin once year to visit the ranch
and finds that the S500,000 he Loaned
Goodnight has quadrupled under the infu
epee Of Texas atmosphere, There are nov
about 10000 head of cattle upon the Good
night ranch, but it will carry 100, 900 easily
Although Goodnight has the best rancl
in America, Col. Dick King, of Corpu
: Christi, looms up above him as mea
monarch, for he has upon his salt meadows
down in Nueces county, on the borders o
the Gulf, more cattle and sheep and horse
than were ever owned by one man before