Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-03
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contracts were all instructed to him.
The influence Of regular freightlng lines
on the building up Of the coast was in
calculable. Emlgrant trains Of men.
women and children were protected
along the route by the express riders,
who constantly kept up a communica-
ton Between one OF Colonel Majors
frelghting outfits and the others 4
system Of watch was inaugurated, and
travelling became comparatively safe.
AS government supplies began to be
carried safely. other freight was sent
out. and soon an immense traffic went
on by both the northern and southern
routes.
When Colonel Majors began opera
tons the eastern terminus Of the
frelghtlng trails was Independence. Mo.
He started In business with little out
NJ Of six wagons and forty oxen. for
II took six oxen TO draw one OF the
wagons. His first trip was made to
santa Fe and the run OF 500 miles and
back was made In nlnety-two days.
This was unprecedented at the time.
and the fact that Majors brought his
oxen In as fat and sleek as when they
started out gave him reputation
among the traders at once. Up 10 that
time II had been conceded that no man
could manage yoke OF oxen without
swearing. A teamster was hired more
on his reputation for swearing and
shooting than for driving. Colonel Ma
yors was a religious man and for
long time conscientious scruples as he
quantity tells IN his book, stood In the
way OF his going Into the frelghtlng
business. He would not employ men
VINO sworc, and he would not haul
freight on sundays.
1T can't be done. Majors" said all
the old teemsters. Eye can't any more
drive a team o oxen through the In
dian Territory or through the alkall des-
erts without swearn al 'em than We
can without breathin'."
But the colonel persisted He be-
lieved that there was a fortune In an
overland freight over the northern
route, called the Salt Lake trail and
over me southern route, the Santa Re
trail, II II could BE- managed expe-
dltlously and carefully, He determined
not TO be blocked by swearing team
siers, and drew up a code OF rules
which every man he hired was obliged
70 sign.
Majors rules" soon became as cele-
brated as his freight wagons They
read az follows:
While am in the employ Of A. Ma
J0rs. | agree not TO use pr0fane Ian
guage, not to get drunk. not TO gamble.
not TO treat animals cruelty. and not
10 do anything else that Is Incompatible
with the conduct Of gentleman. And
| agree, II ! violate any Of the above
conditions, 10 accept my discharge
without any pay for my services"
a few years later. when the clvli war
broke out. the colonel added another
clause 20 his rules, binding everyone in
his employ 10 pay true allegiance" to
the government OF the United States.
Majors freight wagons never moved
on Sunday, In making up a schedule,
sundays We're counted out. When the
day came the long wagon trains were
halted. the cattle turned out on the
plain 70 Craze and Dull drivers" and
"broncho busters" took a day on.
Wages were continued al the expense
Of the employer, and the colonel al
ways insisted that this rule brought
him more in improved service than It
cost him.
Unlike many OF the rugged pioneers
10 whom billed shirts were always
fripperles, and who prided themselves
on their uncouthness, Colonel Majors
was gentleman Of the old school. He
was able, by a quiet dignity, 20 en-
force regulations that would have made
a laughing stock Of another boss" As
traffic increased II fell gradually into
tho hands ~ Majors Overland freipht
changed the name to Majors, Russell &
Waddell They soon increased their