The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-25
FOUNDER OF CATTLE TRAILS.
JOSEPH O. MCOY REVOLUTION.
ICED METHODS.
showed the Texas Cattle Kings How Go
ship Their Herds 10 Best Advantage
AMI was tho Cause Of Abilene and other
had Towns Trails Are Closed Now.

WICHITA. Kan. Nov. sI.--I am nearing
threesoore years and ten and soon will
go over the long trail said Joseph G.
Mccoy. the founder of the fAmons Texas
KAnsls cattle trails. as he sat on RE norph
OF his pie AS homo here. Il often think
over the old days-the greatest days the
cattle trade over Knew"
Mr.. Mccoy is vigorous and hale even in
his old age. IN though not now engaged
in business expects to resume his work
as cattle inspector for the Gov eminent La
a few months. ID.
It is probable that no single agent did
more in a short time TO revol Itionize the
cattle industry in the West than the Kansas.
and Texas cattle trails, whose usefulness
is now ended and which Mr.. Mccoy started
in business. The opening Of Oklahoma
and the building OF Texas railways have
put an end to a great industry, and tho
last struggling herd has been driven from
the pl Inns OF the Lone Star State to the
shipping stations In Kansas.
The long paths stretching over hin and
valley, across rivers and through prairta
forests are crossed by barb wire fences
and railroad tracks and 30 closed forever.
The man who originated them IL a resident
Of the newest State, Oklahoma, and Ia.
giving his experience in pioneering In Up
building that promised lind.
Joseph G. Mccoy was born In illinois,
and was one Of three brothers, all Of adj
venturous spirit. In 1896, at the close OF
the war, he came West. determined TO
enter the business Of cattle raising.
At that time the Texas cattle had bu&
two ways Of getting to market. One Wa
via ST. Louis, then down the Mississippi
or by railroad to New York; the other via
New Orleans. Both drives we're long and
dangerous because Of the warm regions
through which they extended.
Mccoy, upon reaching Kansas, noted
that the Kansas Pacific Railway. the
Union Pacific. was built abou half way
across the State westward and decided TO
form a cattle station thereon.
He selected Abilene, a station l6S miles
west Of Kansas City. consisting Of Q log
house or two and a saloon. Making ar
rangements with the railroad company
for the construction OF yards. &C.. he started
of alone across southern kansas into the
Indian Territory. stopping me long herds
bound eastward and turning them to the
Kansas shipping point by telling them OF
the rich pastures and excellent shipping
facilities.
The first herd sent northwsrd belonged
to SOM CALI o~rnians, and IL was followed
by several more that season. The long
and OK pensive drive thI oil the Ozark
Mountain region was gladly evaded and the
the comparatively near point tempted the
cattle kings.
The disparity between the Texas supply
and the Northern prices was etualized by
the close connection, and in 1857 5000
head of cattle sought the new station.
When several trainloads Of the fat beeN CO
had been shipped to Chicago in better con-
dition than any had ever been received be-
fore, a special excursion train brought g
large company OF stockmen from Chicago
and Springfield. Ill. to see the new shipping
place, now grown to a rambling village OF
board shanties and tents, and knoWna as the
wickedest CITY in the West.
But the surrounding country was well
watered and had plenty OF nutritious grass,
and the inhabitants Of the town rather
gloried in its title. a designation which
sfterward was applied TO LeadS lille and
Dodge City. In 1888 there were 7S,O1
cattle shipped.
In 1853 the number increased TO 1900
and in 1870 70 10000. or l per cent. OF ~
the cattle in iexas. Two or three prifaE,
pal trails had been laid out and were ell
worn by passing hoofs.
OF these the best known was the Chisplm
ira |, so ca lied alter a partly civ iliGs In"
dian who first guiGed herds along it. Ihen
there was the Shawnee trail, the tsorite
of western Texas.
Leaving the Red River it ran estwssrds
CTOSSD1K UIt AThdBSns IllNCA g @S"N
Gibson: thence it followed tbs hkansas
Valley unit it cane into Kansas when It
was only necessary to traverse pc elgnty
mile Divide between the Ahtsas and
Abilene is located. There OeIesice trails
and cutoffs to evade swollen rivrs or hills,
but the trails followed their gaerA olreo-
ton pretty closely.
driven into the country surrounding the
town. For scores of N lilies the pralries
were dotted with herds grazng under the
surveillance Of the COW boys.
But the market was Phtted- Hrices
fell Off and the owners couh not sell ana
rr're tina 10000 cattle WEE Wintered on
Kansas prairies.
No provision had been made and the
brutes were corr elled &c raw away the
snow TO secure the Cesd h1alo grass thar
Law beneath. II wac estha ed that TWO
thirds of the number dla and their bones
whitened the swells of tb plain for many
The rea~tion had set in and the NEXT year
saw less taan 10000 bad shipped. from
Abilene. Ellsworth, eighty miles further
west, was the new shipping point, and after
that came Dodge City on the line o. the q
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, ?
then just completed trough the kansa
Valley.
! Cowboys made tho own a terror TO Law
abiding cit zens and murders we're every
day occurrences.
Finally civilization pushed its way wesS-
ward and the sayins There is no Sunday
west of Dodge City and no God west Of
! Pueblo, became ob9lete.
The cattle trails ire being covered with
| grass. and coon the! will be only q memory.
But for the bcnfs n unfortunate animals
which died on th~eipjouTney il would be inn
possible in a year or two TO trace them
They were for a tine the trunk lines OF the
plains. Abilene md llsworth are quiet
country cites, and Dodge City has a theo-
logical seminary.
After the decadInce Of the cattle trade at
Abilene Mr.. ''cCy fclloVed il 70 southern
Kansas, finally settling in Wich "a. In
June, 1891, the Superintendent 81 the { rnsus
recognized ais fanil.a ar ty with the stock IN
dustrv and made him super'nt"n ND mt of
the range cattle department OF the live stook
bureau OF the l&t census.
near DrIveby wisconsin Fapmera