The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 20, July 1916 - April, 1917 Page: 16
426 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
the lawyer, whose library consisted of only a few law books, was
a real estate man, an insurance agent, and candidate for public
office. The storekeeper was usually a Jew who hoped to grow
up with the country.'
The personnel of the industry is interesting. Trappers whose
game had' become scarce, foreigners, well-bred young men from
the states started out by relatives, and mature middle class men
engaged in the business. Harvard graduates and unsuccessful
miners alike tested their ability in cattle raising. Cowboys were
divided into two classes, those from Texas, and those not from
Texas. Most of them were good men, but many criminals sought
the ranches as a refuge from the officers of the law. Excesses
were committed on the cattle raising frontier, but for many of
these the cowmen were not responsible. By far the greater num-
ber of cattlemen settled into steady life and helped lay the foun-
dations of the great commonwealths of the west.
Fortunes were accumulated rapidly in this business. In the
days of greatest prosperity large owners lived in Texan cities like
princes, enjoying their time in luxury and travel, while their
wealth increased faster than they could spend it. A number of
men whose wealth is great in live stock are yet living, among
whom Mr. Henry Miller of the firm of Miller and Lux is an
interesting figure. Others of note are Major G. W. Littlefield,
Col. C. C. Slaughter, John Scharbrauer, Sugg Robinson, and
Winfield Scott all of Texas. There are a number of firms which
have large holdings. The X. I. T. ranch in the Panhandle is a
good example.
Most cattlemen now own smaller herds for which better care
is provided. They drive a less number to the "round up," but
they find fewer skeletons bleaching on the ranges in the spring.
The owner in the cooler region knows that he can make profit
by raising a few hundred head, if he provides some kind of
shelter and a reasonable amount of feed for them during the
winter months.
The growth of western cities and the extension of the great
railroad systems through the West has eliminated the drover
from the business. Great markets and meat packing centers have4-Hough, E., The Cowboy, ch. XVI.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 20, July 1916 - April, 1917, periodical, 1917; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101070/m1/22/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.