Ralph Compton Big Jake's Last Drive by Robert J. Randisi & Ralph Compton

Author:Robert J. Randisi & Ralph Compton [Randisi, Robert J. & Compton, Ralph]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2020-06-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Barbed wire.

One of the biggest reasons the trail drives from Texas to Kansas were dying out was barbed wire. Ranchers decided to fence off their property, which kept herds from being driven across their land during a trail drive. Having to push a herd around these fenced areas made the trail drives just too time-consuming and difficult. In addition, it cut down on places where the herds could graze. If the cattle couldn’t eat during a drive, they arrived at their destination emaciated.

Jake had expected to encounter some fenced-off areas, and was surprised that they had not—until they reached Kansas. The ranchers in Kansas not only wanted to protect their grazing grounds, but also wanted to keep their own cattle from any diseases the Texas cattle might be carrying.

The first time they encountered a barbed-wire fence and had to redirect the herd, Jake realized they were not going to make Dodge City in a week.

“We can cut the wire,” Dundee said, “drive the herd through, and then put the wire back up.”

“And start a war,” Jake said. “No, we’ll go around.”

Apparently, word had gotten out about a herd being driven through Kansas, for the next time they encountered the wire, they also had to deal with armed ranch hands. Jake tried to explain his cattle weren’t diseased, but the rancher they were dealing with was having none of it.

“Go around,” he ordered Jake.

It took two weeks to make the one-week trip to Dodge from Liberal, but they finally drove the herd into the Dodge City stockyards. It was only after the cattle were closely examined that they were accepted, and driven into the stock corrals.

Jake had no doubt that barbed wire was going to further divide the range, and would even cut down on the need for large crews of cowhands to keep the cows from overgrazing certain areas. He was actually glad he was never going to have to try to drive a herd through Texas again. Avoiding barbed wire in the near future would be next to impossible.

“You boys are free to eat or drink all you want,” Jake told his men. “Put your horses up at a livery, and get yourselves situated in hotel rooms, and after I’ve sold the cattle, we’ll settle up. And don’t get into trouble.”

“Sí, jefe,” Taco said, “we will be waiting.”

Taco and the others turned their horses and rode away from the stockyards.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.