CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1908-12-10

FRONTIER SKETCHES


in a 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 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. ara crossed by barb
wire fences and railroad tracks and
hence closed forever. The man who
originated them is Joseph G. Mccoy,
who was born in Illinois. He was one
spirit. In 1866, at the close of the
war. he came west determined to en-
ter the business OF cattle raising.
At that time Texas cattle had but
two ways of getting to market. One
was via St. Louis, then down the Mis-
sissippi or by railroad to New York;
the other via New Orleans. Both
drives were long and dangerous be-
cause of the warm regions through
which they extended. Upon reaching
Kansas Mccoy noted that the Kansas
Pacific railroad. now the Union Pa
cific, was built about half way across
the state westward and decided to
form . cattle station thereon. He Sc
leced Abilene, a station 165 miles west
of Kansas City. consisting Of a log
house or two and saloon. Making ar
rangements with the railroad COM
pany for the construction Of yards.
etc. he started off alone across south
ern Kansas into the Indian territory.
stopping the long herds bound east
ward and turning them to the Kansas
shipping point by telling them Of the
rich pastures and excellent shipping
facilities.
The first herd sent northward be-
longed to some Californians and 1t
was followed by several more that
season. The long and expensive drive
through the Ozark 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 1867 $4,000 head of
cattle sought the new station. When
several trains loads OF the fat beeves
had been shipped to Chicago in better
condition than any had ever been re-
ceived before. special excursion
train brought q large company OF
stockmen frcm Chicago and Spring
field. Illinois. to see the new ship
ping place, now grown to a rambling
village of broad shanties and tents
and known as the wickedest town in
the west. But the surrounding coun-
try was. we'll watered and had plenty
OF nutritious grass. The Inhabitants Of
the town glorified in its title. des-
to Leadville and Dodge City. In 1868
$1,000 cattle were shipped.
i, In 1869 the number increased to
$50, 900 and in 1870 to SOC. 900 or one
per cent OF all the cattle in Texas.
Two or three principal trails had been
laid out and were well worn by pass
ing hoofs. OF these the best known
was the Chisholm train. so called af-
ter q partly civilized Indian who first
guided herds along 1t. Then there was
the Shawnee trail the favorite Of west
ern Texas. Leaving the Red river, 1t
ran eastward, crossing the Arkansas
river near Fort Gibson: thence fol-
lowed the Arkansas valley until it
came into Kansas. when 1t was only
necessary to traverse the eighty mile
divide between the Arkansas and
Smoky Hill valleys. in the latter Of
side trails and cut-ofYs to evade swol-
len rivers or hills, but the trails fol-
lowed the general direction pretty
closely. In 1871 fully 900 900 cattle
were driven into the country sur
rounding the town. For scores of
miles the prairies were dotten with
herds grazing under the surveillance
Of the cowboys.
But the market was glutted. Prices
fell off and the owners could not sell
and more than 100000 cattle were
wintered on Kansas prairies. No pro-
vision had been made and the brutes
were compelled to paw away the snow
to secure the drief buffalo grass that
lay beneath. 1t was estimated that
two-thirds of the number died and
their bones whitened the swells of the
plain for many years. The reaction
had set in. and the next year saw less
than 10000 head shipped from Abil-
enc. Ellsworth, eighty miles further
west, was the new shipping point and
after that came Dodge City. Here the
old scenes were re-enacted. Cowboys
made the town a terror to law-abiding
citizens and murders were everyday
occurrences. Finally civilization push
ed its way westward and the saying,
There is no Sunday west OF Dodge