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Show THE HULLETIX BY ELMO SCOTT WATSON VN MARCH 2, 1836. Republic of Vfl Texas came into istence in the little town of Vvasliing-t- j ton on the Brazos, Three days later, in v a farm home on the of Madison county, prairies Illinois, was born a little boy who was destined to become one of the truly great citizens of Texas even though, unlike some of her traditional heroes, he is but little known outside the borders of the Lone Star State. But few of those heroes had a more interesting career than did Charles Goodnight. He rode bareback from Illinois to Texas when he was nine years old. He was hunting with the Caddo Indians beyond the frontier at thirteen, launching Into the cattle business at twenty, guiding Texas Rangers at twenty-foublazing cattle trails two thousand miles in length at thirty, establishing a ranch three hundred miles beyond the frontier at forty, and at forty-fiv- e dominating nearly twentv million acres of range country in the interests of order. At sixty he was recognized as possibly the greatest scientific breeder of range cattle in the West, and at ninety he was an active international authority on the economics of the range industry. He always fode beyond the borderlands, upon ranges of unspoiled grass. He knew the West of Jim Bridger, Kit Carson, Dick Wootton, St. Vrain and Lucien Maxwell. He ranged a country as vast as Bridger ranged. He rode with the boldness of Fremont, guided by the craft of Car-soThe vast and changing country over which he moved, the fertility of a mind that quickly grasped the significance of climate and topography, the inexhaustible energy of his mind and body, and the long period of time through which he constantly applied himself to the Western World, operated to produce in this man an ample nature surpassing many of the more famous characters of frontier history. . . . Now, a hundred years after his birth, his massive frame looms strong among the horsemen of the storied West." So writes J. Evetts Haley in the book Charles Goodnight Cowman and Plainsman," pub-ex-T- -- -- . far-reachi- r, - n. MARY DYER GOODNIGHT lished recently by the Houghton Mifflin company, and this book by a native of the range country of west Texas who is a member of the department of history at the University of Texas, not only is one of the most important Western biographies of recent years but it is an inspiring account of an American frontiersman who was unique among his kind. In contrast to so many men of the border breed whose chief claim to distinction seems to have been their spectacular career of destruction. Goodnight was a constructive force in the country in which he pioneered. True, he had occasion now and then to kill but the men whom he disposed of rustlers mostly were the kind of citizens which the community could spare easily enough. On the whole, what he did almost always served the best interests of the region where he lived and at the same time it advanced his own interests. But that was a secondary consideration with him. Again in contrast to so many other men of the frontier, who were noted for only one thing, his was an extraordinarily versatile and many-side- d personality. Again quoting his biographer: lie was filled with vigorous sest for life. His Observations upon nature ranged, with remarkable freshness, from the prairie dogs of the Taio Duro Tlains to the buffalo of the Northwest, from the grasses of the Brazos Valley to the conifers of the Greenhorns. He saw sheep gra7ing with the Navajo flocks along the Tecos, Nature's own photograph of a giant cinnamon bear on the mineral bluffs of thr 1icketwire, great for seven-horne- d pete with ships constructed with government money and subsidized seventy - fourth by special privileges accorded by Ship congress was the their governments. So, it is made to appear, at least ship subsidy bill. Subtidy this line of reasoning, that from of Residents farming communities and smaller American firms are left to the mercities and towns in the interior cies of foreign shipping companies probably paid no attention to it in their efforts to expand our exNor was there any port trade that is, they are left whatsoever. outstanding reason apparent why to these mercies unless this governthey should give thought to a rath- ment takes a definite stand by which American flag ships are acer complex and yet imsome advantages. of it corded is But piece legislation. I suspect there are many feaportant even though the circumstances under which it will be ef- tures of the ship subsidy bill which fective may not so appear to the was fathered by Senator Copeland, ew York Democrat, that will agricultural sections of the country. The new law provides an undis- prove unsatisfactory. Indeed, I am guised subsidy as the basis of en- sure some of them will be found to couragement for development of a be wholly unworkable. But the new American merchant marine. point is, after all. that a start has It la the first time that such a poli- been made toward honesty of polimerchant macy has been carried out by the cy in dealing with American nation and it is, there- rine problems. 1 think no one can fore, yet a matter to Je tried out refute the statement that as bebefore anyone can say definitely tween concealed or disguised subthat the results will be satisfac- sidies and. forthright payments that tory. Those who sponsored the leg- are known as subsidies, the forthislation have long contended it right and honest method is decidwas both sound and sensible and edly better. Since the United States normally their argument prevailed in conproduces a surplus of agricultural gress. imAdvocates of the measure say products,to it becomes highly forthat the portant agriculture that it will provide at least a markets are accessible and start for the construction of new eign costs of transportation do the that and faster and more efficient not entirely eat upftthe value of the American owned ships. They com exported unless the tend further that the policy upon commodity from the plains states and which the nation has now em- wheat cotton from the South and the barked as regards shipping will the corn from the Mississippi valley cost less in the end than other can be moved at reasonable cost. disguised and concealed subsidies It can be moved at reasonable cost that have been employed. is proonly if American It may be necessary to recall tected. That is notshipping alone my opinthat the United States long has ion. It is the opinion of many expaid what amounts to a subsidy to perts in the field. ocean going ships in the form of One might properly inquire excessive rates for the transporta- the foreign boats should not why be tion of ocean mail. There are 43 used to handle American commodisuch mail routes and the ships op- ties if the freight rate is lower. erating on these routes, conse- There are two very valid reasons benefited to the extent of why this should not be obtained. AU iitrtuTM Iran Hatojr'i Charlra quently, the number of pounds of mail they One is that constant rate reduction (teadnlKht Cearaiaa aad rialajtaian." raaitrajr, Haachtaa Hr nia CmpuBjr. carried because the payments they by foreign shipping companies received were on a pound basis. would sooner or later, probably This contribution from the fed- sooner, destroy the American mere until his death, nearly enabled many of chant marine. With this end eral years later, he never those government to sur- achieved, the companies shipping foreign shipping comspoke of Loving except in ut- vive. panies would do as they have atmost tenderness, says his biogBut it is only natural that one tempted to do on a number of occarapher, and his vibrant voice should ask why a subsidy is ad- sions jack up the rates to suit mellowed with reverence as he or necessary at all. The themselves. The other reason why visable would slowly say, my old partowned American goods should be shipped ners and raise his eyes to the answer is plain. American American the flying in American bottoms is that a merships chips, ranch-house picture that hung on the flag, are required by law to meet cantile marine is as necessary as wall. numerous conditions that are not adjunct to our national economy Later the Goodnight-Lovin- g by any other nation of the and our national welfare as are the trail was extended into Colorado required with their admiralregistered ships lines of land transportation. This and Wyoming and 300,000 cattle ties. to seem me a broad statement may in six years. The passed over it but I believe, nevertheless, it is a With these conditions, among truthful one because ail fields of inmany others, it becomes easily un- dustry as well as agriculture would derstandable what suffer if we were left at the mercy Some difficulties of foreign shipping companies. front American Further, the commodities that we flag ships in com- import would pay whatever rates with world shipping. petition the foreign shipping companies deAbove and beyond the factors manded in order to reach our just mentioned, it is a matter of shores and we would pay the bill. record as well that ship construcIt seems, therefore, that while tion in the United States costs more this legislation probably is far from perhaps than any place else in the perfection, probably has entirely world. Here again American stand- too much governmental finger in ards are influential. They bring the pie, presents a start shipping about higher wages and shorter that will be helpful. I eventually An labor in for American hours no answer to this statehave heard lean shipyards. Thus, a new ship ment. It is going to cost about starting out begins its service with so much for transportation on the OLIVER LOVING a handicap of greater cost upon ocean and if we can maintain an which a return must be had if those American industry upon that cost second of the trails which he who invest their money in ships of a subsidy of the aid the Goodplus known new as the blazed, are to receive a profit thereon. now initiated, we have laid type night trail, ran from Fort SumThen, there is a further distinct out a sound unit in our national ner in New Mexico to Granada, and Important reason. I refer to structure. It goes withColo., and several years later he national defense. It has long been commercial laid off his third from the JA the conviction of military and nava out saying, therefore, that if it is ranch to Dodge City, Kan. It men that American freight and pas- helpful to one part of the country it is going to be helpful to all othwas 230 miles in length and should be so designed ers because we are so interrelated. ships senger e known as the Palo developed and constructed, that City trail. they might be converted to satis- -' Political students have been enAlmost as romantic as the factory use as auxiliary craft in lately in stirring arguments gaged g is of the time of war. In this connection it his story over what possi- story of his association with the will be recalled that tremendous Pettt and bly may be a new our were John gov--j Irishman, George Adair, sums expended by influence in the Drouth in the development of the fa- ernment in building ships for use cam palgns o f mous JA ranch, the first in the in the World war. There was such 193G. 1 refer to the disastrous conTexas Panhandle. During his vast waste of money at that time ditions in some of the plains of the eleven years on this ranch he that it seems incredible anyone Middle West resulting from lack of handled more than 300,000 cattle, should ever make the same mis-- j rain. I also, to the presence refer, with a total loss during the time take again. But to avoid that mis-- ! of pests in sections of the plains nec-' are advance of only 1.000 head, and the prop- take preparations ' states. a point strongly erty paid an annual profit of essary and that is who It has been interesting, not to say favored the stressed by those 75 per cent on the capital into listen to the arguhumorous, vested. ship subsidy legislation. ments being advanced, arguments He died in 1929 at the age of based purely on political phases Now to link the importance of the that ninety-threstill active, vigormay or may not result from ous and dynamic in both brain ship subsidy bill with agriculture: those conditions. There is no agreeAmerican prodHis and body. among the Democrats and no Link tYitfi nets must have ment d JA cowboys lowagreement among the Republicans access to the Farm foreign as to the effect of the ered his massive casket into the cirmarkets and this cumstances developing natural in the midgrave, and with tears streaming access must be under fair and read dle west. Some Democrats condown their leathery, sonable conditions. tend the drouth will react to Prescompetition faces, shoveled in the dirt that Such reasonable and fair competi- ident Roosevelts covered him up. And there in advantage. Some cannot be obtained conditions tive fear that the Demothe graveyard at Goodnight, Republicans American built ships, constructed cratic contention is true. Some Texas, came to rest at last this if at greater costs because of the high-- I Democrats are afraid that the loss dominant. driving, restless plainsstandards of wages and living of crops and the generally bad conar man. More appropriately, he American labor, and operated dition in which this leaves thouof of Palo the should lie at the edge on a basis of greater cost for the sands of farmers will them in Duro canyon, which, splashed reasons do not have some a stale of mind whereplace will be same of colors with the enduring ages, they from the government determined to vole someverdant with grass that will protection whose flag they fly. They cannot, body and of course against out of the only percarves be never plowed, for example, meet the freight rates son against whom they can vote is the staked plains an everlasting offered by the Japanese whose lato the memorial pioneering spirit bor basis is distressing an whose Mr. Roosevelt inasmuch as he happens to be the man in power at of Charles Goodnight. general construction costs -- are the moment. I .vwi Wi v,.fi v mnamazingly low. Nor can ft 'Kri .Nmuiii'i I'nioB Washington. One of the pieces of legislation enacted by the late -- ests miniatured in the agate of the Rockies and buffaloes and horses racing upside down through the mirages of the Staked Plains. He found time to turn back from the lead of two thousand Texas longhorns to see doves nests passed over by thousands of hoofs, and left with eggs untouched. He allowed a Texas cow that escaped from his herd on the Pecos and through , baek-trafle- d four hundred miles of desert and wilderness to die of old age upon the Keeehi range she loved. lie eursed the fool who cut down a lone chittam tree at the head of Dry Creek, on the JA ranch, a fine, useful landmark in a country devoid of timber. He carried one of the little Sonoran deer fifty miles across his saddle in front of him, to add to his studies of wild life in the Panhandle. It was these studies which gave him what fame he had, insufficient though it was, outside the borders of his state. For to anyone at all familiar with the history of the West, the name of Goodnight is inseparably linked with the name of those great 6haggy creatures which once roamed the plains by the millions the buffalo. His interest in these animals began more than 60 years ago, at a time when they were threatened with extinction. He roped a little bull Old calf, which he named Sikes," and carried him home to his ranch for his devoted w'ife. Mary Dyer Goodnight, to bring up." Later he rounded up some more buffalo calves and started OLD BLUE Leader or Goodnight's Trail Herds the herd of bison on the Palo Duro range whose fame became widespread in this country. Mr. Ilalcy says that Goodnight, whom he calls the "Burbank of the Open Ranges," first tried the experiment of crossing the buffalo with Galloway cattle, and shows that he, rather than the renowned "Buffalo" Jones, deserves credit for that feat. He is also credited with being the inventor of that essential piece of equipment (certainly esseng and hungry tial to cowpunchcrs) of the open range the chuckwagon. But more important than either of these achievements is the remarkable experiments on the JA ranch which brought him recognition hard-workin- as the greatest scientific breeder of range cattle in the world. Even if Goodnight had not renown as a cowman, , achieved his career as a would have been enough to give hifh enduring fame. In reality, that career started in 1845 the year Texas became a state when his mother and stepfather, his older brother and two sisters, left Illinois and started for Texas in two covered wagons. In Texas the boy thrived amid the hardships of pioneer life helping his elder brother support the family by working for neighboring ranchers, hunting and fishing for food, bringing up a captured wild colt on a bottle and thus getting his first mount. By the time he was nineteen he decided that he knew Texas pretty well and was about ready to move farther west to a newer With a California. country young companion, and an ox team and a few horses, they started on the long trek west. But by the time they had gone a few hundred miles into West Texas they decided that the state was large enough for them. So Goodnight went back to Palo Pinto county where he ranched and supported his widowed mother. During the Civil war he served with the Texas Rangers, fighting mostly Indians, Mexicans and cattle thieves. After the war, there was no The cattle market. plains swarmed with herds, and cattle could be bought on credit. Goodnight saw the necessity of finding a western market. So did some others, but the young plainsman, then thirty, differed from the rest in that he determined to find it. There was already one up at Abilene, Kas., where many of the cattlemen took their herds to sell, but Goodnight saw a greater opportunity up in New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. The drawback in the scheme was that between the Panhandle and this promising territory lay a great expanse of desert and territory inhabited by Comanche Indians ready to pounce upon invaders and drive off the cattle. Without heavy protection, no herd could get through. So when Goodnight laid his plan before some of his neighbors, they saw only the danger connected with the venture and declined to have anything to do with it. But young Goodnight jouna : partner. lie was Oliver Loving, one of the most experienced cowmen in Texas at that time. The story of how these two men blazed the Goodnight - Loving Trail across West Texas and up into New Mexico to Fort Sumner, how Oliver Loving lost his life in the venture and how Goodnight brought the body of his partner back to his native Texas is one of the epics of the West. "Though Goodnight was then thirty-on- e years of age. trail-blaz- er sixty-thre- - con-Difficult- ies i j ; i j Duro-Dodg- j : trail-blazin- , ; J , e, bow-legge- d, gray-heade- wind-carve- j j j I . |