Chisolm Trail

9 Pages 2263 Words

Running Head: The Famous Trail







The Famous Trail and Cattle Market
Chance Reynolds
North Central Texas College In nineteenth century Fort Worth, Texas a famous cattle trail passed through what is now know as the Stock Yards. This trail called the Chisholm Trail was one of the longest and most difficult trails in cattle drive history. More than six million cattle are thought to have traveled this trail. Though a popular trail among cattle raisers, cowboys, and drivers the Chisholm Trail had its difficulties (“The Trailblazers,” p. 218). These problems included rustlers, illness, and Indian Territory. The trail named for Jesse Chisholm, should have probably bore the name of Joseph McCoy. McCoy, though not the scout or actual trail finder, had the initial dream of a trail from Texas to Kansas (“The Texans,” p. 23).
There were many cattle drive routes in existence during the nineteenth century, but the Chisholm Trail is by far the most remembered. There are museums and landmarks dedicated to the Chisholm Trail than many other significant historical events or places. The Fort Worth Stock Yards is only one of the many historical areas that profits from the passage of the trail. There are many folk songs that entail stories of Chisholm Trail men, events, and triumphs (p.515-516).
The Chisholm Trail was truly inspired by Joseph McCoy. McCoy established a market for cattle in Abilene, Kansas. He discovered that the two-dollar cattle in Texas could sale for ten dollars in Kansas. This is the miracle that Texas cattle raisers had been waiting for. The eastern railroad companies were establishing new markets and building new rails that wound back to the east. Texas cattle raisers needed this market because in the east beef brought a considerably greater price. Jesse Chisholm may have scouted and blazed the trail, but the dream and idea came from McCoy. Ov...