Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-25
AN APPEAL.
The Work Done BY the Northwestern
Texas Cattle Growers Association.
All Cattlemen Asked to Cooperate with the
Association in its Efforts to Serve
the Cattle Interests.

ritory:
On March y, 1889 the Northwestern
Texas cattle. growers association will
hold its thirteenth annual convention al
Fort Worth. This association, organized
m February, 1877, was originally de-
signed to regulate the round ups in The
then open range, and to bring into prac-
tiee such measures as would facilitate the
working and handling of cattle belonging
to its members.
Successful from its inception it is one
of the few organizations that has kept
pace with the various changes through
which the cattle business has passed
been conducted On practical business
basis, and kept free from any encum-
ORANGES or debts which it was not always
able to liquiIlate. In 1888 its members
realized the necessity of devising some
means for protection against the
wholesale driving and shipping to
market, by unprincipled parties
of cattle not their own. 1t was
then that the protective and detective
system was devised, by which it was en-
deavored to guard the shipping points
the trails, and the markets 20 accom-
plish this purpo &c, small tax on the cat
tie represented by its members, limited
by the constitution to cents per head
was assessed, the association at the same
time leaving this feature optional with
each member, and not allowing it to at
feet his membership, should he not desire
to have the benefit of protection. With
the receipts from these taxes, skilled and
expert employees have been kept on the
watch. The result is shown in the last
annual report of the executive commit
tee. During the year ending March 10 ,
1888, there were actually caught for the
members Of the association cattle to the
amount of Sl2 ,096 .21, while the total ex-
penses were but S1l ,S35 .2l The same
relative saving holds good from the date
of the inauguration of this protective
system.
In asking stockmen to join and work
with us we are often met with objections
one of the most common of which is the
statement: Why, I have my cattle in q
pasture. And there is not stockman
owning pasture but knows that at any
hour of the day or night stock may be
driven out without his knowledge, and
the very fact of having them enclosed to
themselves but saves the trespasser the
trouble of cutting out protected brands.
Again, our members often cease paying
ment that they see no necessity to con-
tinue their membership. q You caught
none OF my cattle during the past sea-
son say they. Short-sighted business
men are they.
Cattle caught represent but a very,
small percentage of the protection fur
nished Look at this business as you
would at any other We paw our taxes
to the state, county or city for police
service, and estimate their value, not
by the number of burglaries committed
or by the number of burglars caught, but
by the absence of such offenses, consider
ing the service the most perfect
when there is no record of crime or
our court dockets. So, too, orr
greatest service consists in protec-
ton against theft, and the active
and vigorous prosecution of the offender
when caught. Thieves are. not fools
hence, they seldom attempt to carry off
or barter property which has been pub
lished tothe world as being under special
police surveillance, when there is an
abundance of material that they can han
die publicly without danger of.detection,
or without fear of being disturbed, even
if detected. Those who expect protec-
ton, however, must pay for it; hence,
our inspectors are not allowed to interfere
with any property the brands of which
do not appear on our books. Not every
thief is caught, nor is every one brought
to Justice, against whom we may bring
accusations. No police service Is so per-
feet but that the guilty will sometimes
escape. But with the cooperation of
the stockmen of the state our System of
protection could be so nearly perfected
that every outlet and every market could
be guarded at nominal cost to each con-
tributor or beneficiary.
The last year will show more instances of
indiscriminate' driving and shipping than
has been done since the days when stock
men rounded-up on the open range, and
drove whatever happened to be gathered.
Bolder and more reckless are these par
ties growing every day, and it behooves
US TO be on the protection OF our prop
erty.
Our association is perhaps the only one
IN the state doing such service, and
though far-reaching in its work, should
cover the entire stock interest OF the
state. We have existed under all the
depressions that have visited the cattle
interest. Beyond us there appears the
dawn Of a brighter and more prosperous
era. Let us, therefore, now work to-
gether to guard an interest that appears
TO grow more valuable each succeeding
day
The Territory and the Northwest want
cattle, and must come TO Texas, the
great producing ground, to find them.
The indications are that more cattle will
be moved from the state this season than
for several years past, hence, unless we
are vIgilant, I'VE must expect many to
pass for which their owners viii never
receive pay. We ask you, therefore, to
Xnite with us at our convention, to join
with us in the work we are endeavoring
to accomplish, and to cooperate with US
in our efforts to serve the cattle interest
and put down robbery. Respectfully.
A. P Bush. first vice president; s. B.
Burnett, second vice. president; G.. c..
John N Simpson, John A.
Lee, s. w Lomax, A W Hudson, W.
B. Worsham, W. II. Waggoner, Charles
Ike T. Pryor, f.. p EayiS,
] /. G.. Loving, executive committee.
'sSeal of North Carolina Plug Cut is
n delicious smoke