The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-23
The TRAIL TROUBLES.

NOrtn-Ine the u
Keep the Public Trails Closed Resulting
in Serious Loss to the Texans.
ST LOUIS, Mo-, July 1.-THE dispute
between the holders of lands in the neu-
trail strip district of Indian Territory and
the cattlemen of Northern Texas over
strip has assumed a new phase, and, I'M
less the neutral strip men withdraw their
opposition to the use of the trail adopted
BIZ the Dallas convention held in Texas
several months ago, the Texans threaten
to make personal matter of the fight,
Mr.. A. L. Mercer, editor of the North
,ceSterR Live Stock Journal, at Cheyenne,
Wyoming, who passed through the city
en- route for Washington, speaking on
the subject at the St. James Hotel, said:
"THE RIGHT OF WAY
through the Cherokee strip is not the
question at present. The trail through
it leads directly into Kansas, through
which State Texas cattle can not pass,
owing to the laws passed by the last
Kansas Legislature, and the trail is prac-
tically worthless. What the Texas men
want is the trail through the neutral
strip, which is public domain. That
leads into Colorado. Once in that State
they can get north or east, as they de-
sire. The Secretary of State, Attorney
General and Commissioner of Agricul-
ture have been furnished the facts in
the matter, and are thoroughly CONVEX
SAINT with all of the details"
The following telegram was sent from
Texas TO Commissioner Colman at Wash
ington, yesterday:
The trails sought to be travelled by the
Texan drovers are well established by use
and common consent. The trail agreed up
on by the Dallas meeting is the only
practicable one to Colorado Great in
justice and injury has been done the live
stock interest of our State by the stoppage
of the cattle. There is no doubt of the facts
as stated by Governor Ireland and Con-
gresham Sayers. Secretary Lamar's course
is highly commended by all, as an act of
simple justice.
ISignedl JOHN y. SIMPSON,
president Texas Live Stock Association"
On the 18th inst. Messrs. w. A. Towers
and Thomas A. Lee, signing themselves
as representatives of Colorado, Kansas,
Northern Texas, Missouri and Indian
Territory Cattle Growers and Live Stock
Association, telegraphed their version of
the difficulty to Secretary Lamar to the
effect that the right of trail through the
Subsequent investigation develops that
Towers and Lee are interested in the cat
tie business in the neutral strip terri
tory, and, while they may represent the
Kansas and Indian Territory asSocia-
tions, since the stand they take in their
telegram is identical with the interests
of those States, they do not represent
nor voice the sentiments of Colora do,
Texas and Missouri associations. This
discovery is the new phase referred to
above and will doubtless be urged against
them by the Texans as ground for dsre-
garding their statements. 1t is claimed
that the Northern Texas Live Stock As
ISOLATION" does not exist, and that should
the men belong to the
COLORADO AND MISSOURI ASSOCIATIONS,
they were not authorized by them to
make any statement to the Secretary as
coming from them. At meeting of the
Colorado Association at Denver a reso-
luton was unanimously adopted express
sive of the sense of that Association, that
owners of healthy cattle had the right to
drive them over public domain. This
resolution is in direct opposition to tn
position taken by Towers and Lee in OBJ
structing the drive through the neutral
strip. All of the Texas cattle aSsocia-
tons had representatives at the Dallas
meeting and cOncurred in the adoption of
what is known as the Dallas trail, which
traverses the neutral strip and leads into
Colorado, and it is safe to assume that
Towers aud Lee have been selected !
by them to reScind their action |
in the matter, and undo all of theiI |
work at that meeting. MesSrs. Hunter /
and Evans and q large majority of the |
cattlemcn of this State are in sympathy |
with the action of the Dallas Convention 1
and no one has been authorized by them |
to represent 10 the contrary. The law |
the passage of Texas cattle. |
with certain restrictions, through Kan |
Sas, ii is alleged, was passed through the |
influence Of Kansas and Cherokee and /
neutral strip cattlemen for the purpose |
Of njuring the cattle interests of Texas
md benctiting their own. The repre-.
SentatiOnS contained in the Towers Lee
telegram, that the Texas cattle are in.
ected, are denied in Z letter to Commits.
;ioner Colman from Hon. Joseph NJ
wilson, Treasurer of the Colorado Cattle
Association and Director OF
he German National Bank of Denver,
who says that Towers and Lee are seek.
ug to stop cattle from Crockett, Ed
wards, Nolan and Mitchell Counties in
Texas, which are perfectly healthy. John
\. Lyttle, 4 member of the Executive
Committee of the National Cattle and
Horse Growers Association, has tele-
,raphed saying that the cattle are healthy,
md asking that an inspector be sent tC
Texas to establish the fact. DR.. George
7. Faville, veterinarian of the Colorado
State Sanitary Board examined the cattle
md issued bills OF health for them.
Towers and Lee state that there is nc
objection to Texas cattle being driven
,ver the old trail which leads into Kan
as. Kansas being impossible, however,
he old trail is therefore useless to the
texans. Their expressed desire to leave
ne question of the right of passage over
he neutral strip to the courts for deci.
ion is objected to by the Texans for the
eason that the time which won d be oc.
upicd in its adjudication would inter-
ere seriously with their business, and
revent the driving of their cattle until
90 late to reach Northern ranges this
eason. The Texans claim to have
Uttered loss already by depreciation in
alues OF their stock TO the extent of
40, 900, 900, aud 4 speedy solution of the
ifIicuity is asked for. The land occu-
lied by the Neutral Strip Association is
ublic domain and they say that DO one
as a right to obstruct its passage.
The above facts have been placed be-
ore Commissioner Colman and Secre-
Iry Lamar, and it is thought they will
i'll materially in bringing about q settle
tent and have considerable weight in
ivor of the Texans.
A Mothers Home Burned.