The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-20
OLD BULL WHACKING DAYS.
FIR EIGBTIN9 ON TIE PLAINS NE
FORE the ERA OF RAIL ROADS.
nnder Majors, the Pledge He Pit TO Ills
Employees, and Hts Mastery Over
Men-Utah Expedition's Freightinr.

on the plains tho river landings from whore
Kansas City now stands to Nebraska City were
the distributing points for merchandise for the
early settlements in the far West, st. Louis
was the great market,..and hundreds or steam
packets piled upon the Missouri River between
that city and the landings along the eastern
border OF the great plains. Before gold had
been discovered in California and when the sill
YER veins OF Nevada, Colorado. and Montana
were known only by vague traditions brought
into the settlements along the river by trap
pers and traders. quite. a transportation bust
ness grew UP between the river landings and
Santa Fe, N. NJ, the frontier trading post Of
the Mcxicans. Mexico was producing great
quantities of silver. and Mexican silver dollars
were eagerly sought after by the business men
of this country, for by reason of the scarcity
OF silver IN this country the Mexican dollar
was recognized as legal tender. As early as
1922 n Capt. Rock we'll sent n train Of pack
mules across the plains 70 San a Fe loaded
with merchandise fer the Mexicans. and silver
dollars sewed up in green hides were brought
back as the profits of the venture.
There were no w ell-de1ned trails or roads
between the Missouri River and the Mexican
settlements for many years after Capt. Rock
Wells expedition returned. All sorts of vague
ideas prevailed regarding the desert country.
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the sand storms of the desert..were deadly to
stock; water was scarce and bad; no roads
could be made In the shifting sands and a cara
van might easily get lost. Many men doubted
II there ever would como n time when we'll
defined roads and trails would be made across
the prairies. But as tho years went by and
the desire for Mexican silver dollars encour-
aged men of adventurous nature to persist in
making expeditions across the plains, the
knowledge of the country became more posi-
tive and the Santa Fe trail became an estab-
lishcd fact.
BY the time the United States declared war
against Mexico n wagon trail had been so we'll
established that II was determined TO send q
military expedition across the plains cooperate
against the Mexicans from tho north: and
Doniphau's expedition made the journey in
safc.v and succeeded in driving tho Mexicans
hack until chihuahua fell and the United
States army marched into the northern caoi-
tai. After peace had been declared. trading
between the Mexicans and the Americans rap
idly grew in volume until Santa Fe became n
great commercial centre.
For n time mule teams drew .he heavily
loaded freighters' wagons across the plains.
but |. was found that oxen were IA more salts
factory mo i've power for long journeys, and
tn" reign of he bullwhacker began. One
fro,ghter named Spires set out somewhere
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nro,os.d ,b,, ~ bo d,d M, so,ist, tho err =,
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the end OF the journey he would not charge for
his services. while II he make A Quicker trim
80 "N" 'tp
than had been done by any other man In their
employ he would ask only one wagon and
team as payment. But tie hrm mad doubts
and declined the offer. Majors found n firm
OF ~. Louis merchants to back him, and he
lad the satisfaction OF passing one OF the trains
OF his rivals on the rond. while he made the
trip in ninety-two DAYS, the best record
up to that time. He brought his oxen back
,,ali,u ,,l1 ,,1 his to,roo, -, a..
WIZ d" ""' 1Vu'"'' i"u oceh th"ue
without diilicultieS OF any kind. The st.
Louis firm was 80 delighted with the ventura
,Lnt \,otoro ~ ornror,a :, ~ -, .i.n
'h"lors vas efhp'o'eu ~ 20 out wilma
larger train the next year. From a beginning
of six wagons Majors increased his business SO
ta., ,,o, In , ,,,r vo,rs ha uoa .r,nIn. -
'"' ''" 'e'''he WIS running more
than 100 wagons across the plains and had an
advantageous contract with the Government
,o srnrIy ,ho fror,t,r ros,s w,,h ,,a,,aIor.
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