Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-01-06

: =. I|.II1
81 livestock The last year 100000
head arrived there, being the largest
number ever received from Texas y
any one year.
It may interest the reader 70 knew
how the railroad company treated
the IIlinoisan, after he had sent
thousands Of carlaods Of stock over
their road. Upon his demand tcF
settlement, and the payment OF tiie
eighth Of the money, as per contract
received as freight charges on live
stock shipped from his yards at ADJ
Iene, the president, after consulting
the other, members Of the executive
committee, said to the Illinoisan;
"This cattle trade has proved to be
very big thing--a very big thing IN
deed, and we were ignorant about y;
we didn't know, and It has proved 70
be very big thing, so we have de-
cided we made mistake In making
that contract, and we are not willing
TO live up to It." In short they re-
undated their contract utterly, and
SO compelling the IllinoiSan to appeal
TO the courts for its enforcement. y
lacked Just twelve days Of being two
years in enforcing the contract e.
the Judgment Of the state supreme
court. That reputation Of a plain.
written agreement bya perHdious
dishonest company, worked finan-
cial ruin to the Illinoisan.
But in May. 1872, the Illinoisan
came to Wichita, small town withs
out other than temporary buildings.
" 4. TIE smurc ci / constrlctia'
engine laying the rails on the spur
road from Newton to Wichita ~
Just visible, looking north on Main
street, entered into an agreement
with the citizens of Wichita to trans
fer the cattle trade that formerly To-
cused at Abilene, to Wichita. The
result of his effort is told in the fact
that in 1872, S,74O carloads Of cattle
were shipped; and in '7S over 4,OVD
carloads, making over 5000 carloaus
shipped in two years, the value q
which can be safely stated at $4,000
geo, besides an equal amount q
money changed hands for stock, SOLD
on the range, and driven to ranches
IN Kansas and other states. A com
merce aggregating more than six and
million dollars could, AMI
did attract the attention Of the west.
ern world, and served to give Wichita
her first boost in the eyes Of the na-
ton. Genuine life in the wild west
was seen and realized in Abilene and
Wichita, where only brave, nervy
dead-shet, fearless officers could hold
the law defying element In check
and SO secure safety to life, limb and
Such officers were Tom
smith and Wild Bill Of Abilene, ant
the Maher brothers Of Wichita and
Caldwell; the disobedience of whose
orders meant instant death to the
lawless; where goNernment by an
iron hand, was imperative, and pun
was quickly administered by
the deadly revolver in the officers
hands. In thost days, the killing Of
a man created less excitement than
a small dog fight will today in the
streets Of Wichita.
The fellow who attended strictly
to his own legitimate business had no
trouble or danger but the other
kind Of biNeds, who Travelled the
crooked route soon got snuffed out;
or knowing existing conditions sung
low, sawed wood, said and did moth
Ing. The settlement Of the valleys
Of the Arkansas and Ninnescah
rivers rendered IT impracticable TO
reach wichita shipping yards after
70, and the loading Of cattle was
transferred to points on the railroad
farther west, hating finally at Dodge
City, where 1887 saw the lend Of the
use of the famous original Abilene
cattle trail.
But in 1887. enterprising citizens
Of Wichita decided to establish
livestock market, and as a comcomlt-
ant auxiliary, packing houses. The
yards we're built and competent firms
induced, by liberal aid from citizens,
established large packing houses.
But the typhoon Of business de-
preston" that swept over the west
during the following decade, coupled
with bankrupting disaster, consuming
fire and incompetent, If not imbecile
Of the yards and mar
ket, came very near bringing the
whole enterprise to absolute failure
and ruin. But a new era dawned
q