Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-03-01
MAKING READY.
The Northwest Texas Cattle
mems Association
TO MEET IN THIS CITY,
The History and Purposes of the Oldest
and Most Prosperous Cattlemen's
Association in Texas
How IL Works.

Preparations are IN weu-adyanced
stage for the sixteenth annual meeting OF
the Northwest Texas cattlemen's associa-
ton, which comes to this city next Tues
day. The committees that were appointed
have been active in their work, and when
the members of the association arrive on
the morning of the Sth they Will find
Fort Worth welcome waiting for them.
The hotels have engaged extra rooms and
made arrangements 10 take care Of their
guests, and q number Of citizens have been
prevailed upon By the local cattlemen TO
open their homes to receive the guests that
attend the convention, if there should be
such a demand for rooms.
The opera house has been engaged, and
viii be properly decorated for the occasion
The best brass band III the city will be on
hand to enliyen the intervals OF work with
music.
On the last day Of the convention, Wednes-
day or Thursday barbecue will be given
at the stockyards, when the visiting cattle
men will find that Texas raises good beef
some Of their own beeyes. probably, will
grace the spits-and that Fort Worth IN
derstauds how to serve it up.
From MIR. George 3. Loving editor of the
Texas Livestock journal, was obtained the
following brief account of the history and
purposes Of the
SOUTHWEST TEXAS cATTLEMEN's AssoCIA-
and the approaching convention is there
fore its sixteenth annual meeting. a. p.
Bush, Jr., of Colorado City is the president
and j. G. Loving OF Gertrude, Jack county,
is secretary, having held that Office ever
since the association was organized lie Is
also chief of the protective and detective
association, which is an adjunct and one OF
the most valuable features of the North
west Texas association. When the North
western caltlemen first organized, fifteen
years ago the object was to act together
and control the round-ups. But the round
ups are practically thing of the past-the
wire fence has sealed its fate. The cattle
men now stand together in this association
for the mutual protection it affords the
members, acting through the protective
and detective branch. An assessment is
levied on the members, and from this source
a fund is derived which is used TO keep
competent and expert detectives at the
stockyards in Chicago, Kansas City, st.
Louis and Fort Worth, and at the
main cattle-shipping points. These de-
tectives are supplied with descriptions OF
the brands and marks-with which they are
already acquainted--of the members of the
Northwest Texas cattle raisers' associa-
ton, and when bunch of cattle bearing
any such brand are offered for sale or ship
ment by any person not armed with proper
bill of sale, they are taken possession of by
the detective. and are sold for the benefit
of the association, TO which the money
brought by them is RENTED. The facts are
reported to the secretary, and if upon in
vestigation it is ascertained that the cattle
were stolen. the whole energies of the asso-
citation are bent to sending the thief to the
penitentiary. By this means not only are
! thousands of cattle recovered, but the
| members of this association are still further
protected by the exemption they have Sc
! cured from the depredations of thieves.
! The ''rustler'' takes good care to let alone
the cattle of member of this association,
knowing that it has detective stationed at
nearly every point where the cattle will be
| driven for shipment or offered for sale, who
| will seize the stock and hold him up for
prosecution, with one of the wealthiest and
most powerful combinations in the world
backing them. II is this admirable feature
of protection that has made the Northwest
| Texas cattle raisers' association so strong
and lasting.
Fort Worth is practically the headquar-
tiers of the association. An experiment was
made ny meeting in Dallas last year, but
the reception was not gratifying to the
MEMBERS and they are more than ever in
favor of Fort Worth, which will, without
doubt continue 10 be the meeting place of
the association.