The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-08

II
west Kansas, if not the whole of Kan
sas, that it would afford the settlers an
opportunity to take up some cheap cat
tie, lame ones and such that would be
left along the trail, and also afford
them a market to the drover OF all the
vegeta BILE garden stuff, poultry, etc,
that they might produce that was sold
to the drovers- So, wrote plain,
vigorous letter, commencing Mr.. NC
Coy'S scheme and the location that ne
selected and approved OF the unoer-
taking in a semi-official manner. Mr.
Mccoy had his trail marked as Tar
south as the southern line of Kansas,
and near where the town of Caldwell IS
1 now located. Later, this trail was ex-
tended directly across to the 1ndlan
Territory and to Red River Crossing,
Texas, thence DETECTED in a south
westerly direction to Corpus Chrlsti'
Texas.
Mr.. Mccoy established a large,
strong shipping yard, built hotei
that cost $4,000, barn that Woulo
office, etc. In short, established all
the facilities for the beginning OF MS
market This trail was marked by
throwing up little mounds of dirt va
rying to the right or the left TO Sc
cure water for camp and cattle. and
| it never was marked by plowlng a
| furrow like some inaginating Ana
MAS has been writing and publish
ing.
Later. sent a commission of citi-
zens of Kansas down over that TRAN
and helped line it up across the, In
dian Territory to persuade the In
dams that were in that country, then
semi-savage, not to interfere with the
upcoming herds. My COMMISSION
looked the proposition over ana ac-
complished its purpose, returneo anu
so reported, and 1 publicly reported
the trail to be established and sane
toned from Abilene, Kan, to RED
River Crossing, in Texas, in a semi
official manner. For succeeding
years, I watched closely the enter
prise developing by Mr.. Mccoy and
came to know him, know his charac-
ter and intelligence fairly well, and
in the fall of SO gave him commits
sion to represent the state or Kan
sas in an international convent1on
that was called to meet at Spring
field, I'LL, by Governor Palmer of that
state This duty he performed to my
satisfaction and to his credit.
Now, 1 have heard lately that Mr.:
Mccoy has reaped the usual fate Of
pioneers. He opened the way for
hundreds to lay the foundations of
successful fortunes. His operations,
his work, raised the value of the here
tofore worthless Texas ranges up to
$5O,OOO,OOO in the aggregate
also furnished feeding and graz
ing cattle to be used in the north
west, to consume surplus corn and
grass at reasonable rates, and fur
niShed working millions of the east
cheap, wholesome beef at reasonable
rates upon their tables every day,
heretofore a cheap stew once week
was all they could afford. And, last
but not least, Mr.. Mccoy created de-
pot, so to speak, at which was
brought millions of stock cattle, cows,
heifers, calves, etc., which were
nd q
areas of the northern ranges of the
United States, previously occupied by
the buffalo. Scores of ranches in this
region owe their origin to the seed
cattle, so to speak, secured at Mr.. NC
Coy's depot or market But he placed
himself within the power of a rail-
road corporation and when he had
accomplished his work and made a
success of it, they squarely repudiat-
ed the contract they had made with
him as to a division of the freights.
This brought him to poverty.
The federal government, appreci-
ating his special knowledge of live
stock in the west on the plains, on
three occasions gave him commissions
to make investigation for the census
office and bureau of animal industry,
at one time, to-wit, 1890, giving him
charge of the enrolment of live stock
on ranges throughout the then graz
ing regions of the United States,
which was the greater half of the
United States at that time, having
twelve or fifteen men working under
him. During those years and since
he has given special attention to the
various diseases that had appeared
in western live stock and has attend
ed very many conventions and investi-
cations.
Il understand he is seeking a minor
place now under the employ of the
present administration and if there
ever was a man fitted by tI1irty-five
years of special preparation for do
ing a job well, he is fitted pre-emi-
nently to perform the duties of the
position which he seeks, that is inspec-
tor of live stock.
"Courteously yours,
'-SAM'L J. CRAWFORD"