The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-02
MAN WHO FOUNDED
CATTLE TRAILS
Joseph G. Mccoy RevoIutioned
Old Methods.
SHOWEDCATTLEK KINGS HOW
Gave Them Points On Disposing of
Their Cattle to the Best Advantage
and Was the Cause of
Bad Towns.
SHOWED CATTLE KINGS HOW

Wichita, Kant am nearing three
score years and ten and soon will so
over the long trail" said Joseph G. Nc
Coy, the founder of the famous Texas
Kansas cattle trails, as he sat on the
porch of his pleasant home here II often
think over the old days-the greatest
days the cattle trade ever knew"
Mr.. Mccoy is vigorous and hale even in
his old age and though not now engaged
in business expects to resume his work
as cattle inspector for the government in
a few months.
1t is probable that no single agent did
more in short time to revolutionize the
cattle industry in the west than the Kan
sas and Texas cattle trails, whose useful
ness is now ended and which Mr.. Mccoy
started in business. The opening of
Oklahoma and the building of Texas rail-
ways have put an end TO great industry
and the last struggling herd has been
driven from the plains of the Lone Star
state to the shipping stations in Kansas
The long paths stretching over hill and
valley, across rivers and through prairie
forests are crossed by barb wire fences
and railroad tracks and so closed forever.
The man who originated them is res
ident of the newest state, Oklahoma, and
is giving his experience in pioneering in
upbuilding that promised land.
Joseph G. Mccoy was born in Illinois,
and was one of three brothers, all of ad-
venturous spirit In 1866, at the close of
the war he came west, determined to
enter the business of cattle raising.
At that time the Texas cattle had but
two ways of getting to market. One was
via ST. Louis, then down the Mississippi
or by railroad to New York; the other Via
New Orleans. Both drives were long and
dangerous because of the warm regions
through which they extended.
Mccoy, upon reaching Kansas noted
that the Kansas Pacific railway, now the
Union Pacific, was built about half way
across the state westward and decided 70
form a cattle station thereon
Selected Abilene.
He selected Abilene, a station 165 miles
west of Kansas City, consisting of los
house or two and a saloon. Making ar
rangements with the railroad company
for the construction of yards, etc. he
started off alone across the southern KAN
sas into the Indian Territory, stopping
| the long herds bound eastward and turn
| ing them to the Kansas shipping point BY
| telling them of the rich pastures and ex-
cellent shipping facilities.
| The first herd sent northward belonged
| to some Californians, and it was followed
| by several more that season The long
and expensive drive through the Ozahk
mountain region was gladly evaded and
! the promise of quick sales and big profits
at the comparatively near point tempted
! the cattle kings.
! The disparity between the Texas supply
! and the northern prices was equalized by
the close connection. and in 1861 35c0e
| head of cattle sought the new stat on
| When several trainloads of the fat peeves
had been shipped to Chicago in better
condition than any had ever been re-
| ceived before, a special excursion tram
brought a 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 known as the wlckedest city in
| the west.
| But the surrounding countr- was well
| watered and had plenty of nutritious
grass, and the inhabitants Ct the town
| rather gloried in its title. a designation
which afterward was applied to Leadv Vile
| and Dodge City. In 1868 there were 1000
| cattle shipped
| In 1869 the number increased to l5O,td0
| and in 1870 to 3O0, 900, or l per cent OF all
| the cattle in Texas Two or three p7inoi-
pal trails had been laid out and were
| we'll worn by passing hooIs.
OF these the best known was the CHS
| holm trail. so called after a partly ci9ii-
ilized Indian who first guided herds along
| It, Then there was the Shawnee trail, tho
! favorite of western Texas
| Leaving the Red river 1t ran eastward.
| crossing the Arkansas river near Fort
Gibson; thence it followed the Arkansas
| Valley until it came into Kansas. when 1t
was only necessary to traverse the eighty
| mile divide between the -,rkansas and
Smoky Hill valley, in the latter of which
| Abilene is located. There We're side trails
and cutoffs to evade swollen rivers or
hills. but the trails followed their general
direction pretty closely.
Many Cattle Driven There.
In 1871 not less than 100000 cattle were
driven into the country surrounding the