, 1884-03-11
MONEY IN BEEF
Evolution from Cowboy to Million
aire Cattle King.
Profits OF Cattle Raising In Texas
Some Big Figures and Extraor
binary suceesses---A Hint
or the Future
fort Worth Cor. Inter Ocean.

OF tho FUTURE
fort Worth Cor. Inter Ocean.
Shipments Of live stock from Texns to Chi
cago will be unknown before the close OF the
century, and the steer OF the future will
leave his native range packed in Ice. The
present obstacle in the way OF the complete
success OF the system Is the absence Of fac
tories to utilize the waste. the horns, hoofs,
bones and hides. But packng-houses will DO
followed by glue factories and oleomarga-
rine diaries, and the erection OF fences win
make the hide OF the Texas steer worth tan
ming. Hitherto the practice of branding has
damaged the value Of the hides Of Texas cat
tie, but fenced pastures will make the use of
large brands unnecessary.
The enormous increase in the number and
the value OF cattle within the last four or five
years has created a wealth among a certain
class of men similar to that which has made
the silver kings of Colorado and Nevada, and
the bonanza miners of California. Tho cat
tie king of Texas to-day Is usually the cow
boy OF ten years ago, settled down to n So
berer and less dashing style OF life, with a
big bank account in Fort Worth, and a big
herd in one of the western counties.
Many young men who came TO this coun-
try a few years ago without a dollar can now
draw their checks for a hundred thousand,
and reckon their incomes by thousands where
their used to by dollars
THE y ON CATTLE.
The profits on cattle raising in this state
have averaged 100 per cent. during the past
five years, while In some cases they nave
reached five times that amount. The profits
for the first year are nominal, the second year
they average 10 per cent. the third year 30
per cent, the fourth year 60 per cent, and
the fifth year 100 per cent. The extension OF
the railway systems hns materially increased
them, Us it does away with the risks of long
drives.
l was discussing this question with Mr..
Hale, of Fort Worth, the other evening. He
is the editor of The Live Stock journal, and
the best posted man on the cattle trade in
Texas. He said:
There are hundreds of men In the tate
who a few years ago were all cowboys, work.
ing though storm and sunshine, and never
dreaming of being worth more than SIC, 900,
who now count their wealth by hundreds Of
thousands, and In some cases by m%illions.D
How do they grow SO richf
"Well, suppose a man starts with 1000
cattle; at the end OF three years he will have
1000 by natural increase, and in the mean
time will have sold enough steers and old
cows for beef to pay the cost of the whole
herd.D
How much has the increase OF Transports
ton facilities had to do with itf'
VERY much -Four years ago 1t cost about
25 per cent. OF the value Of a beef to get him
TO market. Now 1t costs about 10 per cent.
Then, again, there has been a large increase
in value. A COW that was worth Si5 four
years ago will now bring s25. The demand
has been very great for stocking new ranches.
A beef steer that will bring $50 now could
have been bought for $50 then"
SOME BIG FIGURES.
The Northwestern Cattle Raisers' associa-
ton, which holds its sessions regularly at
Fort Worth, has 22S members, each of whom
own from 1000 to 90, 900 cattle, and represent
n total Of 400, 600 head. There are several
members who have over $4,000, and fourteen
who have over 10000. With a knowledge OF
the facts that it requires not less than ten
acres of range to a single head Of stock, and
that stock is worth an average of s25 n head,
the reader can make his own calculations a.
to the wealth of these men, most of whom
started on nothing.
1t is said that a man by the name of Maver-
lex came into the state In 1887 with nothing
but a brindle COW and a dog, and that when
he died, fifteen years ago., he was worth
81, 900, 600. %
A striking instance OF the way wealth has
been gathered from grass Is shown in the
experience OF the Bartwell brothers, who
came from Bloomington, ILL.,, to Texas in
1876. The aggregate Of their worldly pos
sessions at that time was So, 900, which they
invested in $500 cattle. Now they are the
owners OF 6o,Go0 head, and are worth al
500, 900 at the smallest estimate. But they
started out with considerable capital, which
thu 1raatar ,a p 3 If fh.. ,attIa r,o, 1890 -.
fortunate enough to have. Most OF the cat
tie kings began as cowboys, or with OILY a
fow head of stock.
BooKKEEPER's EXPERIENCE.
The whole northern and western part OF
the state is full Of m~illionaires and men who
are on II rapid road to 70 that enviable condi-
ton. For instance, there is John N. Simp-
son, OF Dallas, who, ten years ago. was keep
ing books In a bank at Weatherford at a sal
AIRY of SIS a month, Is now worth several
millions. and is the managing man and prin-
cipal owner in one of the largest cattle COM
panies In the world-the Continental. Simp-
son Is a Tennssseean by birth, and served
through the rebellion In Wheeler's Confed-
crate cavalry. After the war he came to
Texas, and secured a position in the Weather
ford bank. While there he got hold OF n
small herd Of cattle, on which he borrowed
money to buy more; then he got wealthy
men TO go in with him, and he bought stock
and lands as rapidly as possible when both
were cheap. From his venture has grown
tho Continental Cattle company, which has
herds from Mexico TO Canada, and probably
owns more cattle than any other corporation
or Individual In the world.
About seven years ago the Harold brothers
came to Texas with s35, 900, which had been
loaned them by Robert T. Strahorn, the stock
yards man OF Chicago. With this money
they bought cattle and pasturei Thorn on tho
ranges, which were all free then. Their herds
increased. and a couple of years ago they
bought considerable valuable land. Their
ranch and cattle were recently sold for ST.
5000 0 to C. g. F~ranklyn, OF Nsw York, the
manager of the Cuuard line OF steamers, In
whose summer house Mt Long Branch Presi-
dent Garfield died.
COWBOY MLLIoNAIRRs.
Winfield Scott, of Fort Worth, has had a
similar experience. He came to this country
in 1874 with $1,000, and has Addsd three
ciphers to his capital since.
Capt Jim Reed, of the same city, started
out MS a cowboy in 1878, and when he learned
tho business bought a few Gown. He now
owns $4,000 worth OF real estate and a ranch
on the Brazos worth as much more. l. b
Harris, OF Tom Green county, is an old
pioneer, who, IL not born here, lived under
the republic Of Texas and was In its service
as a ranger long before It's annexation TO the
United States, He claims to be only IS, hut
has been in these years ranger. cowbow, cat
tle-owner and pastureman. He has one ranch
in Tom Green embracing 65, 200 acres, which
is n half days ride In length and takes In ten
10 fifteen miles of tho Colorado river. He
Mother Walton has prescribed this