Cattle Drives

The current issue of the Kansas magazine reminds us of the great cattle drives, starting after the Civil War and continuing until the railroads extended into Southern Texas around 1885. Imagine--more than five million Texas Longhorns being herded from Texas to railhead towns in Kansas 1867 to 1885. Some years, over 500,000. That would average over 1200 a day. Many herds consisted of 1,000 or more. The main trail was called the Chisholm Trail, following somewhat the same route as the present Highway 35. Of course it was wide open country then, and the Indians very seldom created a problem. The first principal terminus was Abilene, and then as more railroad lines were added, the end was at closer points, like Ellsworth and Newton. The cattle were picked up at the railheads and taken to Chicago for slaughter. Texas longhorn cattle were the first cattle to set foot in America. They could survive in rugged arid country where no other breed could live.

LSmith6100@kc.rr.com