The Mining and Cattle The Mining and Cattle FrontiersFrontiers

St. Elmo, ColoradoSt. Elmo, Colorado

The Mining FrontierThe Mining Frontier

What led people out the Frontier?What led people out the Frontier?The possibility of riches.The possibility of riches. Result: The development of towns that Result: The development of towns that

appeared in many cases almost overnight. appeared in many cases almost overnight. These became known as These became known as instant townsinstant towns..

For example in 1858, the “Pike’s Peak or For example in 1858, the “Pike’s Peak or Bust” emigration led to 25,000 people Bust” emigration led to 25,000 people moving without verification of any gold or moving without verification of any gold or silver. This was all part of a reaction to the silver. This was all part of a reaction to the “Gold Rush” from 1849. “Gold Rush” from 1849.

Cherry Creek and Denver Cherry Creek and Denver CityCity

On the east side of Cherry On the east side of Cherry Creek in Colorado near Creek in Colorado near Pike’s Peak, a man named Pike’s Peak, a man named William Larimer, Jr. set up William Larimer, Jr. set up a city to take advantage of a city to take advantage of the movement of people the movement of people and made a fortune.and made a fortune.

This place was named This place was named Denver City.Denver City.

Virginia CityVirginia City

In 1859, a new In 1859, a new discovery was discovery was made in Nevada.made in Nevada.

Many came from Many came from areas like Cherry areas like Cherry Creek when they Creek when they heard about “blue heard about “blue stuff” that had stuff” that had been discovered.been discovered.

It was silver.It was silver.

A ton of gold ore was A ton of gold ore was worth $1595.worth $1595.

A ton of silver ore was A ton of silver ore was worth $4791.worth $4791.

The discovery became The discovery became known as the Comstock known as the Comstock Lode. Henry T.P. Lode. Henry T.P. Comstock did not make Comstock did not make the discovery but did the discovery but did make $11,000 and lost make $11,000 and lost it later in other it later in other attempts to be rich.attempts to be rich.

Work in the Comstock LodeWork in the Comstock Lode

The Big BonanzaThe Big Bonanza In 1873, John W. In 1873, John W.

McKay along with McKay along with James Graham Fair, James Graham Fair, James C. Flood, and James C. Flood, and William S. O’Brien William S. O’Brien created the created the Consolidated Consolidated Virginia and Virginia and California Mine California Mine Company). There Company). There discovery, the Big discovery, the Big Bonanza would Bonanza would bring in over 190 bring in over 190 million dollars.million dollars.

The change in miningThe change in mining

The move from small, individual efforts to The move from small, individual efforts to large corporative mining became a reality large corporative mining became a reality in the West.in the West.

Corporate efforts used new technologies Corporate efforts used new technologies and large equipment to more efficiently and large equipment to more efficiently mine the new finds.mine the new finds.

However, this was expensive. Where did However, this was expensive. Where did the money come from?the money come from?

Eastern capitalEastern capital

Instant (Boom) TownsInstant (Boom) Towns

Towns attracted gamblers, Towns attracted gamblers, thieves, and murderers, as thieves, and murderers, as well as eager miners.well as eager miners.

Many times the law Many times the law enforcement agencies-US enforcement agencies-US Marshalls and Deputies-Marshalls and Deputies-were many days ride from were many days ride from these towns.these towns.

Who made the law and Who made the law and who enforced it?who enforced it?

The people: vigilante The people: vigilante justicejustice

The most common criminal The most common criminal activities included horse activities included horse stealing, cattle rustling, stealing, cattle rustling, bank robbery, and train bank robbery, and train robbery. Vigilante groups robbery. Vigilante groups were both supported and were both supported and feared by settlers on the feared by settlers on the Plains. Although they Plains. Although they fulfilled the role of providing fulfilled the role of providing essential law and order, they essential law and order, they also used their power to also used their power to pursue personal vendettas. pursue personal vendettas. People could be ‘arrested’ People could be ‘arrested’ because of their race or because of their race or because they threatened because they threatened the power of the vigilantes. the power of the vigilantes. However, in the absence of However, in the absence of official forces, the settlers official forces, the settlers were forced to accept their were forced to accept their services. services.

With the development of the With the development of the railroads across the Great Plains, railroads across the Great Plains, beginning with the completion of beginning with the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, the federal and state 1869, the federal and state governments were able to enforce governments were able to enforce the law more effectively, although the law more effectively, although there were still problems. Federal there were still problems. Federal officials were appointed for every officials were appointed for every state by the US government in state by the US government in Washington, DC, and each territory Washington, DC, and each territory and state was given a clear legal and state was given a clear legal framework. The US government, in framework. The US government, in the person of the president, the person of the president, appointed a US marshal for each appointed a US marshal for each territory or state. The work of the territory or state. The work of the US marshal was extremely difficult, US marshal was extremely difficult, as he was responsible for enforcing as he was responsible for enforcing the law over a vast area - the law over a vast area - communications were limited and communications were limited and transport slow. The US marshals transport slow. The US marshals chose deputy US marshals to cover chose deputy US marshals to cover sections of their territory or state, sections of their territory or state, making the imposition of law and making the imposition of law and order more feasible. Backing up order more feasible. Backing up the US marshals were three judges the US marshals were three judges appointed by the US president for appointed by the US president for each territory or state. However, each territory or state. However, the judges, like the US marshals, the judges, like the US marshals, had too large an area to cover had too large an area to cover effectively. Prisoners waited effectively. Prisoners waited months for trial, and risked the months for trial, and risked the possibility of vigilante attack while possibility of vigilante attack while languishing in jail. languishing in jail.

At the local level, towns and At the local level, towns and counties appointed their own counties appointed their own sheriffs and marshals. Towns sheriffs and marshals. Towns employed town marshals to employed town marshals to enforce the law locally. They often enforce the law locally. They often had the hardest job of all the law had the hardest job of all the law enforcers, as some frontier towns enforcers, as some frontier towns were frequently overrun by were frequently overrun by lawless, gun-toting gangs or lawless, gun-toting gangs or individuals. Town marshals such individuals. Town marshals such as Wyatt Earp in Tombstone had as Wyatt Earp in Tombstone had to try to enforce some sort of to try to enforce some sort of order. Earp made a career out of order. Earp made a career out of law enforcement, initially being law enforcement, initially being employed by the marshal in employed by the marshal in Wichita, Kansas, moving to Dodge Wichita, Kansas, moving to Dodge City as assistant marshal in 1876, City as assistant marshal in 1876, and then taking an appointment and then taking an appointment at Tombstone, Arizona. Here he at Tombstone, Arizona. Here he attempted to end the lawlessness attempted to end the lawlessness and cattle rustling that were and cattle rustling that were endemic in the town, culminating endemic in the town, culminating in the notorious gunfight at the in the notorious gunfight at the OK Corral in 1881. Rural counties OK Corral in 1881. Rural counties outside the towns elected a outside the towns elected a county sheriff who served for a county sheriff who served for a two year period; the sheriffs, too, two year period; the sheriffs, too, faced the problem of covering faced the problem of covering vast areas with limited time and vast areas with limited time and resources. resources.

TombstonTombstonee

The most famous event in The most famous event in Tombstone's history was the Tombstone's history was the famed Gunfight at the OK famed Gunfight at the OK Corral, which didn't actually Corral, which didn't actually happen at the corral, but in a happen at the corral, but in a vacant lot on Fremont Street. vacant lot on Fremont Street. On October 26, 1881, members On October 26, 1881, members of the "Cowboys" had a run-in of the "Cowboys" had a run-in with Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan with Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan Earp with help from Wyatt's Earp with help from Wyatt's friend Doc Holliday. 24 friend Doc Holliday. 24 seconds and 30 shots later, seconds and 30 shots later, Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank McLaury were mortally McLaury were mortally wounded. In many peoples wounded. In many peoples opinion, it was this one event opinion, it was this one event that has kept Tombstone alive that has kept Tombstone alive for all these years.for all these years.

Jesse James and his brother Jesse James and his brother Frank JamesFrank James

The Mining Act: 1866The Mining Act: 1866

Enacted the rules and laws many Enacted the rules and laws many miners themselves had agreed to in miners themselves had agreed to in these towns.these towns.

The significance of the mining The significance of the mining frontierfrontier

Expanded settlement from the Rocky Expanded settlement from the Rocky Mountains to the Sierra Nevada range.Mountains to the Sierra Nevada range.

People learned of the great mineral People learned of the great mineral resources to be found and mined.resources to be found and mined.

It provided impetus for railroads, farmers, It provided impetus for railroads, farmers, and the cattle ranchers to follow.and the cattle ranchers to follow.

Many farmers would stay and farm after Many farmers would stay and farm after the mines were emptied.the mines were emptied.

Cattle ranchers had a population to sell Cattle ranchers had a population to sell their producttheir product

Between 1860-1900 $12 billion in gold and Between 1860-1900 $12 billion in gold and silver was foundsilver was found

Significance continuedSignificance continued

A legacy of folklore developed thanks A legacy of folklore developed thanks to writings like those of Mark Twain.to writings like those of Mark Twain.

The Indian WarsThe Indian Wars Many Instant (Boom) Towns became Many Instant (Boom) Towns became

Ghost TownsGhost Towns

Ghost town: South Pass City, Ghost town: South Pass City, WyomingWyoming

The Cattle KingdomThe Cattle Kingdom

In the 1860s, cattle In the 1860s, cattle trade was big trade was big business. Those business. Those who worked on the who worked on the cattle drives cattle drives became known as became known as cowboys.cowboys.

Who was a typical Who was a typical cowboy?cowboy?

CowboysCowboys

Where were they from?Where were they from? About 1/3 were former slaves, and the rest a About 1/3 were former slaves, and the rest a

combination of emigrants and immigrants combination of emigrants and immigrants (especially Mexicans) and many former (especially Mexicans) and many former Confederate soldiers.Confederate soldiers.

What did they earn? About $.80 a day (15 hour What did they earn? About $.80 a day (15 hour day); $25 per monthday); $25 per month

Typical meal? beans, cattle liver, kidney meat, Typical meal? beans, cattle liver, kidney meat, cattle brains and intestines. Or, a lot of it thrown cattle brains and intestines. Or, a lot of it thrown together in a stew-Son of a Gun Stewtogether in a stew-Son of a Gun Stew

What did they have? Typically 8 to 10 horsesWhat did they have? Typically 8 to 10 horses

CowboysCowboys

What types of jobs did they have?What types of jobs did they have?

On the cattle drives, typical jobs include; On the cattle drives, typical jobs include; “pointers”-who road in front as guides; “pointers”-who road in front as guides; usually two and “drags”-who would ride usually two and “drags”-who would ride behind to keep track of weaker cattle in behind to keep track of weaker cattle in the rear (usually 3). This left another 11 to the rear (usually 3). This left another 11 to 13 cowboys on the sides who 13 cowboys on the sides who communicated through hand signals, 1 communicated through hand signals, 1 captain and 1 “cookie”.captain and 1 “cookie”.

What did cowboys fear?What did cowboys fear?

Indian RaidsIndian Raids Poor weatherPoor weather StampedesStampedes

Cattle drives typically included over Cattle drives typically included over 3000 head of cattle over 2 to 4 3000 head of cattle over 2 to 4 months and hundreds of miles.months and hundreds of miles.

A cowboy’s prized A cowboy’s prized possessions?possessions?

bootsboots saddlesaddle hathat horseshorses

The cowboy as heroThe cowboy as hero Why is the cowboy remembered as a Why is the cowboy remembered as a

hero?hero?

He was usually a loner, good at He was usually a loner, good at outdoor work, skilled on horseback, outdoor work, skilled on horseback, on always travelingon always traveling

The cowboy The cowboy

The idea of the “cowboy” originated The idea of the “cowboy” originated in Mexico. The terminology is a great in Mexico. The terminology is a great clue:clue:

saddle, lariat, chaps, boots, spurs, the saddle, lariat, chaps, boots, spurs, the big hat, sombrero, rodeo, 6 shooterbig hat, sombrero, rodeo, 6 shooter

Cattle TrailsCattle Trails

The cow townThe cow town

Another type of instant town began Another type of instant town began to develop along the cattle trails. to develop along the cattle trails.

These were the places that railroads These were the places that railroads crossed the trails. They became crossed the trails. They became places for strangers to gamble, drink places for strangers to gamble, drink and enjoy company of others.and enjoy company of others.

Abilene, KansasAbilene, Kansas

Joseph G. McCoy made this cow town prosper.Joseph G. McCoy made this cow town prosper. In 1867, he bought the entire town for $2400.In 1867, he bought the entire town for $2400. He built a shipping yard, big barn, and a three-He built a shipping yard, big barn, and a three-

story hotel (in 60 days).story hotel (in 60 days). Sept, 1867: 1Sept, 1867: 1stst shipment of 20 car loads of shipment of 20 car loads of

cattle.cattle. By 1869: He made $250,000 in commissions By 1869: He made $250,000 in commissions

from the Kansas Pacific Railroad. He made from the Kansas Pacific Railroad. He made more for the sale of one lot in Abilene than he more for the sale of one lot in Abilene than he paid for all of it just two years before.paid for all of it just two years before.

The End of the Open RangeThe End of the Open Range

Railroads had become successes and Railroads had become successes and everyone wanted to invest in cattle; TOO everyone wanted to invest in cattle; TOO many cattle hit the market driving down many cattle hit the market driving down prices.prices.

In 1885 and 1886 poor weather weakened In 1885 and 1886 poor weather weakened cattle and wiped out some herds.cattle and wiped out some herds.

Family farms were beginning to take more Family farms were beginning to take more and more land and put up fences.and more land and put up fences.

Corporations had begun making cattle raising Corporations had begun making cattle raising a scientific, large-scale business.a scientific, large-scale business.

Cowboys became cowhands working year Cowboys became cowhands working year round.round.