The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-11-12
(New York Telegra2h.)

(New York Telegra2h.)
Away back in the Caddo County
delegation at the recent statehood con-
vention at Oklahoma City. a tall. gray
bearded. digniied-looking man arose
and called to the chairman. There were
several other persons on the floor al
most simultaneously, but there was
something commanding in the appear
ance of the man from Caddo which
brought him recognition.
who is hep" everybody was asking.
His names GTeen-R. D. Green.
some one said, and then, by way of eX-
PLANTATION, "Cannonball Green"
Had it not been for the invasion of
the railroads in the southwest, Cannon
ball Green would have been a million
aiTe today. His system Of stage lines
was a gold mine. and was the next best
thing 10 railroad. His biggest coup
was during the opening of old OklahO-
ma. The Rock Island then ran only as
far as Pond Creek, 16 miles north Of
the northern border of the strip. The
Rock Island made a contract with
CannonbaIl Green for transporting the
passengers from the end of the line on
TO the strip at S. each. The first day
the excursions started for the strip the
railroad wired Green that 600 passen-
gers would be there in the first train.
1t was seen that the job was one Of
magnitude, but Green secured the
country and employed every farmer
who had a wagon or buggy, and with
his stage line carried out the contract.
Cannonball Green was a good adj
vertiser. He owned stage lines all
through the west, connecting with the
Santa Fe, Colorado and the Texas
Panhandle. When the boom struck
western Kansas there was a big de-
mand for his stage lines. Garden City
ana LeOu were after him for a line
connecting the towns, and asked him to
make a proposition.
IN come for six town lots in each
town and $1,000 bonus" was his propo-
sition.
He made the first trip with great os-
tentatiOn. The greatest speed ever at
tanned in Garden City up to that time
was made by his six-horse team and
stage coach when he entered the town
II was Drearranged. but in the center
of the town a wheel caught q truck
gardeners cart and scattered pump
kins. cabbage and everything else all
over the street. An angry Dutchman.
the owner of the cart, rushed NJ TO
him and demanded damages Green
was wearing plenty of diamonds. He
waited until the crowd was sufficient
ly large and then inquired the amount
of the damage. The Dutchman thought
SIS would be about right CannOnball
Green took out a roll with a $500 wrap
per, contemptuously peeled off a 500
note, and flung it at the truck garden
er. Green made himself solid With his
patrons.
CannonbaIl Green first ran a stage
line from Helena, Mont, to Fit Benton.
He established his lines in the south
west in 1872. The fixed schedule of the
route was 100 miles per day, no more
and no less. Once a driver came in
two hours late. The driver told the
proprietor there were no passengers
and he tho ght he would let the horses
take ii easy The driver was new, and
received a lecture on the treatment of
horses. Those who knew how to handle
them knew that the horses had been
injured by being allowed to take it
easy" for in service like that the horses
must be forced to accust0m them
selves TO one gait and keep il.
Cannonball Green used 10 make bets
with his passengers that he could
change teams quicker than any OF
them could light a cigar. He always
won too, for the harness was equipped
with snaps like those on FIRE harness,
and he used to make the change with
out stopping.
Once General Manager Kinsley of the
Santa F'e was making a trip over one
OF Green's lines. Green always kept
his private coach, which he used as a
pay coach. When the general manager
reached Greensburg. in Kiowa cOun-
| ty. Kansas, Cannonball Green informed
him that his private coach was about
TO start IN the direction ne was going
and invited him TO accompany him
( The owner Of the Cannonball stage line
and the heavy stakeholder Of the Santa
Fei'had ttapelsd a long time over the
ho1 DESERT. .fl