The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1895-09-12

grower, lured by the immense profits in
sheep raising. could endure; and the bus
mess went out. But sheep culture is not
only profitable, but it is fine occupation
for those who are fitted for it under pro-
per conditions necessary in the rearing
of the gentle lamb.
The gathering of buffalo bones that
had bleached in the sun of the semi-arid
plains, afforded means to tide ever many
settlers long after the drOuthy period of
ls79-se. For few years buffalo bones
were staple line in Dodge City's COM
MERGE. These bones wereshipped by the
carload lots to eastern dealers, and were
used in the refining of sugar. 1t was
several years before the buffalo bone in
dustry had become extinct, and it may
be remembered with pleasant recollec-
ton by those who engaged in it, as mark
ing the period in their lives. when it was
''root hog, or die
Buffalo bones were worth from 81 to 50
a ton, and wagon load was gathered in
a short time. Bones were gathered for
many miles distant.
~
There are old residents in Ford county
who date their coming more than thirty
years ago, when the Santa Fe trail. the
Indian and the buffalo were the marks of
existence. More than the life of Il gen.
GRAFTON have they passed in this abode,
witnessing the very slow process OF evo-
luton of growth; and old age has creep
ed upon til. m; but they may yet be liv-
ing witnesses of the new growth. the sal
walton of the country.
Speaking of ''slOw growth reminds
us that the :'sand hills offer evidence in
the country's growth. Fifteen years ago
the ''hills'' were covered with very little
grass or vegetation. and the hills along
the river were baldheaded--as barren rs
as u HC ShONuN w |
left untouched by the plOw and devoted
to grazing.
The cowboy of the early trail days was
an unique specimen of the genus homo.
There were some people who believed
his pedigree was lost. and that he de-
scended from the remnant Of an extinct
race: but where he came from was not
unknown: how he was reared was the
enigma. He was III human form but bo-
vinish in instinct; he was an Onery crit
ter. Association and custom can deform
the finest specimen of humanity, and the
early cowboy may haye had some antece-
dents. but he partOok of his environment.
He was ignorant and british. and would
shoot and kill on Sigh provocation. He
was "a holy terror" He had lost the
finer instincts of humanity, if he had
ever possessed any, from his long con-
tact with the wild Texas steer; and he |
was as wild and wOolly as the long horns
were. For weeks with no cOmpaniOnship |
but the Texas native steer in wild and
unsettled country, it was not unexpected
that the cowboy should show british
conduct. He had some generous qualities
but he had little regard for the prOprie-
ties of life when his anger was aroused.
The cowboy and the city officers were
always ready for fight with the pistol.
1t was the common purpose of the early
cowboy to stake the town. on his advent
to the place he was meeting. This plan
was arranged beforehand before reaching
the city. The result was not always the
most beneficial to the cowboy. One or
two of gang generally ''bit the dust"
as they stated it in those days.
1t was alleged that the rivalry and an
imosty between Texas and Kansas found
expression when the Jayhawker and the
Texan clicked horns" but it is not likely
that international jealOusies prevailed in
the minds of either the bovine puncher
or Kansas official.
The cowboy went through the same
evolution of character that our country
is undergoing. The worst characters
drifted west as the cattle business went;
and he probably fills grave on some
shoot hill" an unmarked grave far over
the ..divide." His term is obsolete.
The later cowboy was finer specimen
of human kind, being intelligent and
gentlemanly; and the clanking Of his
spurs, as he strobe along in gay apparel.
was sweet music to his ears. He indulg-
ed in drink and gambling and other of
the vices, but he was not vicious.
1t was necessary to have some though"
men in the cattle drives of early times to
guard against cattle stealing by white
kind as much dangerous aud depraved