Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-11-27
The Cattle Trail.

The question of a national trail at
the Stockmen's Convention in St. Louis
last week elected considerable discus
sion, but resolution was finally adopt
ed by large vote, asking Congress to
make an appropriation of land for the
desired purpose.
The driving of Texas cattle to north
crn markets has been a traffic of i'm
mense importance, but every year, ow-
ing to the settlement of the country
through which the drive was made,
new difficulties have been encountered,
uutil the point has been reached When a
special provision is necessary. 1t is
proposed to provide strip of country
six miles wide running from Texas to
the remote cattle districts of the north,
and congress will be memorialized to
make grant of land where government
land exists on the proposed ':trail. J"
This move looks impracticable. On
the proposed "trail'' thousands of acres
of land will be occupied by settlers ov-
cr whom the government will have no
control, and whose rights must be pur-
chased either by stockmen or from an
appropriation made by congress. Were
this scheme possible it would be an ex-
travagant and expensive one. The
Texas cattle trade will every year find
new resources and a s'trail'' running
north from that state would soon be
valueless. The ''traii' question seems
only temporary relief, but the scheme
must be given up as wholly impractical
bic.
Stockmen in this region Of country
no longer wish to stand in the peril Of
the Texas cattle drive and vii! certain
ly'use their influence against the propos-
ed congressional interference. This sec
ton of country contains large numbers
of fine cattle which every year are jeo-
pardized by the dreaded Texas cattle
fever Many losses every year occur
of fine blooded stock from the cattle
scourge.
In pecuniary point Of view Dodge
City would be benefited by change Of
tn, ''Texas cattle drive, to some other
section. The increase of local stock
shipments at this point would compen-
safe the loss from the "drive." Our
local stockmen would be free from
losses made by the Texas cattle fever.
We do not question the commercial
right Of Texas stockmen, but the rights
Of our local stockmen must also be re-
spected.
In the vicinity of Dodge City the
lands have been taken up by settlers,
and the Texas cattle drive must neces-
sari!y find more western outcome.
The following from the Topeka Com
mcnwealth will appear pertinent:
In the speech Of welcome made day
before yesterday to the members Of the
Cattle Convention in St. Louis we find
the following:
II think Congress should set aside a
part of the public domain sufficient for
a National or international trail from
the Red River of the North to the Red
River of the South and wide enough to
accommodate a million head Of cattle.
Now is the time to memorabilia Con-
gress to that end"
A grant Of land for the purpose de-
scribed, Or for any purpose Of private
speculation or enterprise, is PROPOSE
ton which should be received with stern
disfavor in Congress, in the press, in
public discussion, and wherever it is
made. It is doubtful whether tract
of land so vast in extent ought even to
be sold to any private or business inter
est. Too much Of the public lands is
already held by corporations and other
monopolists, and what there is left
should be reserved for the homes Of the
people.
Aside from the general objections to
this proposed grant, it should receive
no favor, for there are indications that
it covers a sinister scheme from which
vast possibilities CT injury to the inter
ests of the United States may be devel-
oped. It is known that some powerful
syndicates of ranches are at work to
secure modification of the British or
ders in council regulating the importa-
tion of American cattle, so that they
will not apply to cattle shipped from
Canada to English ports. If they can
secure this action from the British au-
it is their design to form
vast outlet for cattle from the plains to
the British Possessions, so that they
may be shipped over the Canadian Pa
cifc Railroad and its connecting lines
to Montreal and Quebec for exporta-
ton To the success Of this scheme,
land grant six miles wide reaching from
Texas to Manitoba, would be a multi
cent endowment. They might call it
seattle trail" but they would probably
have railroad constructed along its
entire length as soon as the tracks could
be laid for that purpose. 1t is extreme
ly improbable that Congress will sub
sidize, by a vast grant of land, an en-
terprise designed to turn two-thirds of
the freight over the Western railroads
into channel by which it will be all
"gobbled' by the Canadian railroad
lines.
Christmas toys, cards, dolls, &C., at
The millinery ronrns of Mrs ,I.omart 4