The daily tribune., 1908-12-05
CATTLE INDUSTRY
IN EARLY DAY

Probably no siugle ageut did more
In . short time to revolutionize the
cattle industry in the west than the
Kansas and Texas cattle trails. The
opening Of Oklahoma and the build.
ing Of Texas railways have put an
end to q 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
hence closed forever. The man who
originated them ia Joseh g. Mccoy
who was born in Illinois. He was
one of three brothers. all Of adventu-
rous spirit. In 1865. at the close OF
the war. he came west determined to
enter the business of cattle raising.
At that time Texas cattle had be-;
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 we're long and dangerous
because of the warm regions through
which thev extended. Upon reaching
Kansas Mccoy noted that the Kansas
Pacific railway, now the Union Pa
cific, was built about half way across
the state westward and decided to
form a cattle station thereon. He
selected Abilene, a station 1876 miles
west Of Kansas City. consisting of
log house or two and saloon. Max.
ing arrangements with the railroad
company for the construction of yards
etc., he started off alone across south
ern Kansas into the Indian territory,
the long herds bound east.
ward and turning them to the Kansas
shipping point by telling them of
the rich pastures and excellent ship.
ping fAoilities.
The first herd sent northward be.
longed to some Californians and It
was followed by several more that
season. The long and expensive drive
the Ozark mountain region
was gladly evaded and the promise of
quick sales and big profits at the com.
near point tempted the cat.
tie kings. The disparity between the
Texas supply and the Northern prices
was equalized by the close connection
and in 1860. $4,000 head of cattle
sought the new station When sew.
eral train loads of the fat beeves had
been shipped to Chicago in better con.
dition than any had ever been re.
ceived before . special excursion train
brought large company Of stock.
men from Chicago and Springfield,
to see the new shipping
place, now grown to = rambling vii.
lAse, Of board shAnties and tents aud
known ~ the wiokedest town In the
west. But the surrounding country
was we'll watered and had plenty Of
nutritious grass. The Inhabitants Of
the. town rather gloried in its title. a
which afterward WAS Ap.
piled to Leadville and Dodge City.
In 1868. 10. 600 cattle were shipped,
In 1880 the number increased to 100.
900 aud In 1870 to 300 900 or one per
cent Of all the cattle In Texas. Two
or three principal trails had been laid
out and were we'll worn by passing
hoofs. OF these the best known was
the Chisholm trail. 40 called after n
partly civilized Indian who first
guided herds along 1t. Then there
was the Shawnee trail. the favorite Of
western Texas. Leaving the Red
river, ran eastward, crossing the
Arkansas river near Fort Gibson |;
thence followed the Arkansas valley
until 1t came Into Kansas. when 1t
WAS only necessary to traverse the
eighty mile divide between the Ar.
kapsas and Smoky Hill vulleys,in the
latter Of which Abilene is located.
There ware side trails and outofYs
to evnde swollen rivers or hills. but
the trails followed the general direc.
tion pretty closely. In 1871 fully