Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-15
THE OLD CATTLE TRAIL.
A Reporter Drifts in Upon an "Old-Timer-
and Listens to a story of the
Cattle Trail.

NStAiT Aiait'
Yesterday a reporter wandered into q
well-known cattle traders Office on -
street ut an early hour after dinner and
found the veteran cowman who preSides
when the ''whopper swapperSi are in SeS-
sion peacefully doing, while i smile circled
playfully around the hole in his face, and it
was evident to the ruStler that he was
either dreaming Of the bright prospects
over the cattle situation, seeing his bank
account growing is Il result OF big trade re-
Gently made, or comparing the present and
future prospects with the las few years
or. perhaps rOmping over the plains in
trailing times of Il dozen or more years
ago.
After revolving all these imaginary things
through his mind the reporter concluded
to break into the colonel's tall cOwmen wear
titles slumbers, and proceeded TO turn
over the chair close at hand and await re
suits.
The colonel opened his eyes without NOV
ing from the position in which he was SO
comfortably fixed, recognized the reporter,
and said don't know nothing-come round
later" and shut his eyes again.
Thinking there was choice bit of news
TO be had could ne get the colonel to relate
the cause Of the smiles referred to, the re
porter pulled up chair and set about find
ing out by asking:
a
moment ago.
''Wern't dreaming-come round later"
But you were laughing-heard you out
on the sidewalk-come in TO catch on. Tel
me about it
The devil was" he blurted out,
Strengthening up.
That the size Of it. colonel
well, I'll tell you what was my thoughts
since YOU seem determined to know. 1t is
of no special interest to anyone perhaps
except those who know little of old times
i'll Texas 1t is an old story to cattlcmen.
But the few minutes | have been sitting
here have passed over my cowboy days up
to the present time, recalling ali the hard
ships (but pleasant Ones) of former days,
comparing them with the present system
Of transferring cattle from one section of the
country TO another, aided by the network of
railways Texas is now blessed with, and
seeing the old life III thebusiness returning
these things pleased me. and cause the off
OF boisterousnesS YOU referred to (but | beg
lfeve you're liein). At any rate if vote
will promise not to use my name I'll tell
you"
Let her go, colonel"
We'll the Aladdin-like Transformation of
this great Southwestern country from the
habitat of the rabbit o the habitat of man
makes the future beyond imagination's
stretch Old landmarks are fast disappear
ing and one that is less thought Uf-even
the old cownen are not mindful of it in
this progressive decades the old cattle
trail The iron horse and the advance Of
civilization have made these old cattle trails
memories of the shaiowy past. These inter
state arteries of cattle commerce have been
wiped from the face of the earth-just as
the steam horse is likely 10 be displaced by
a still quicker and, perhaps. safer trans
portation as we go onward and upward in
the ascending spiral of civilization.
The most prominent cattle trail in this
part of the country before the railroads
visited the state extended from San Anto-
MO to Kansas City through the very heart
,pf the present city of Fort Worth RuSlS
street, which runs by TIE GAZETTE Office,
has been tramped by hundreds Of
thousands of hoofs, and l never cross it
but think OF it. Like a large river, fed
by many tributaries, this old cattle trail
was the main highway of cattle commerce. :
widening as it grew longer. fed by ths
many smaller from the different cattle seq
tions of the Southwest. The trail was 200"
yards wide in this locality. and crossed the
Trinity Just east OF and a few feet below
the present Missouri Pacific railroad bridge.
The old fort that stood on the west side
of the public square, named after that gal
liant Mai. Gen. Worth, was abandoned just
about the time the old cattle trail was
opened up through Fort Worth.
"Rusk street was not abandoned as q
cattle trail until 1876. the year tn Texas
and Pacific railroad got here. Fort Worth
began to shake off the sleepy condition of
an isolated village and take on the hustle,
incident to young terminus of muck
prayed for and anticipated railroad.
But the old cattle trail. like the cattE.
man of to-day, still stayed with US, lowering
on the outskirts of the growing town, and
the Missouri Pacific track, which displaced
iL..xow marks its quondam course.
ss}SThose were the days of the cattle kings.
Several droves would sometimes pass in 4
day, and the largest herds would number as
high as IL, 000 head.
Joseph II. Brown. whose business grew to
such immense proportions in Fort Worth.
received his start in business from the
trade derived from the cattlemen, who
would lay in q great deal of their supplies
necessary to carry them on the long drive
to Kansas. So did others prosper.
"The Fort Worth boy in those days who,
had an eve to the main chance would stzF
ton himself on the edge of the trail, and
importune the boss OF the outfit TO give him
a calf The weakened ones that evidenced
the lack of necessary muscle to stand the
trip. were often given the boys. with the