Dodge City as a Cattle Town

By Michael King

   Dodge City, a place of monumental historical significance, was founded partly due to buffalo hunting. However, the hunting only started after the buffalo became nearly extinct due to mass slaughter. At this point, Dodge City needed another source of income to survive. Fortunately, circumstances in other parts of the country ultimately provided that source, profoundly shaping the city's history.

   ​Post-Civil War, Texas, a land known for its resilience, was ripe for the cattle industry to thrive. Despite the lack of labor and the disrepair of their ranches, the Texans, renowned for their resourcefulness, saw a potential solution to their problems in the wild native Longhorns. Their resilience in the face of adversity is truly inspiring.
   Ranchers in South Texas embarked on the challenging task of rounding up the Longhorns to sell to eastern buyers. However, they faced a significant obstacle in transporting the cattle to the cities, with no railroads built to where the cattle were and the prospect of driving them to market, causing them to lose too much weight. The ranchers were in a predicament. Their solution was to walk the cattle to the nearest railroad shipping point, usually in Kansas, and then let them ride the rest of the way.
   The Chisholm Trail, the most famous cattle trail, started in south Texas and ended in Abilene, Kansas. As eastern and central Kansas became more densely populated, local farmers resented the Texans who allowed their cattle to roam freely, which damaged the crops. The farmers also feared "Texas Fever," a disease carried by ticks on the Longhorn cattle, which was deadly to the local cattle. The farmers put up fences to keep out the foreign herds and protect their cattle, and the Kansas legislature passed quarantine laws to prevent Texas cattle from moving through certain parts of Kansas. The legislative action led to the discontinuation of the Chisholm Trail, and cattlemen began using the Western Trail from south Texas to Dodge City, where the Texas trade was more welcome.
   On the trail, the hardy Longhorns, with their remarkable resilience, grazed for food and spaced themselves by instinct as they moved along about 12 miles a day. Their ability to endure the long journey and harsh conditions is truly admirable. A steer could be driven from the starting point in Texas to Dodge for about 75 cents. The fifteen or so men employed for the drive were each paid thirty to forty dollars a month, so by the time they reached Dodge, $90 or more jingled in their pockets, and they were ready to spend it all on a good time.

   The first herds heading to Nebraska reached the point of rocks on the outskirts of Dodge City in 1875, marking the beginning of a significant economic boom. The Santa Fe Railroad Company acted quickly by constructing a large new stockyard, and Robert Wright dispatched agents down the trail to assure the drovers that Dodge was ready and waiting for them. Storekeepers purchased new merchandise to meet the needs and desires of the cattlemen and cowboys instead of buffalo hunters. Saloon keepers gave their businesses Texas-inspired names such as Nueces, Alamo, and Lone Star.
   On May 12, 1877, the first herd from the Red River arrived in Dodge, solidifying the economic importance of the cattle trade. The drives increased until the number of cattle peaked at half a million for one year. The city was buzzing with activity and prosperity, a testament to the success and excitement of the cattle trade.

   Robert Wright advertised his store as "the largest and fullest line of groceries and tobacco west of Kansas City. It offers everything from a paper of pins to a portable house. The store provides groceries and provisions for your camp, ranch, or farm, as well as clothing, hats, boots, shoes, underclothing, overalls, Studebaker wagons, Texas saddles, rifles, carbines, pistols, festive Bowie knives, and building hardware. The profits are $75,000 a year."
 Wright mentioned that it was common practice to send $50,000 shipments to banks in Leavenworth for deposit because Dodge had no bank. The store served people of various nationalities. Wright could comprehend and communicate in most Indian languages. Mr. Isaacson was fluent in French, while Samuels had Spanish, German, Russian, and Hebrew expertise.
   Merchants and saloon keepers knew that trail hands expected to have a good time when they reached town, so they were prepared to provide the right ingredients. The saloons varied from small one-room shanties with dirt floors to long wooden buildings with painted interiors, intricately carved mahogany bars, mirrors, and paintings. These frontier saloons offered more than just poor-quality alcohol and strong spirits. The saloons also provided fine liqueurs, brandies, and the latest mixed drinks. Ice was always readily available to ensure that beer would be served cold and enhance the drinking experience in the newly developed Cowtown. The Old House Saloon even advertised anchovies and Russian caviar on its cold lunch menu.

    Dodge City's cattle era lasted only ten years, from 1875 to 1885. However, these crucial years shaped its reputation and global renown. It was a time of transition, as the 'Queen of the Cowtowns' evolved into a thriving farming community and trade center, marking a new chapter in its history.