The history of the cattle industry in southern Arizona, 1540- 1940 Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Wagoner, Jay J., 1923- Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 05/10/2021 17:13:16 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/551155 54941 1451 THE HISTORY OF THE CATTLE INDUSTRY IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA, 1540-1940 V y Wagoner A Thesis submitted to the faculty of the Department of History and Political Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in the Graduate College, University of Arizona 1949 L7. -c r j ^ n :*:i OAor-oAPr . ; i^iivnioc ::i nl"onr A snd -o o‘>' .77C AA'-iA-j:; t-u-r^/oB IoA jj-zi/j %":oz'c.::- z:z;e-:r.v i-o I'O 0.-7 fd 70 A 7C"i;0n,0-:T> ^OO-AA A'U. v Zi. ■ iv 7 fid: H yC’j’.vr ;;,oO i..; iv ; V;: :X ; . - ■ v ' •■ "' - ;.'Li : if.' *'*•* •.. * - », ^ » *. hsro'j.osiA t? V Ov. ; ; V noo.'oA{■' »-• -L , Aor *«rrzov oo A" V h r m / / 9 V ? 6 2- TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page INTRODUCTION . 1 I. THE SPANISH PERIOD . .. 3 II. MEXICAN LAND GRANTS AND APACHE DEPREDATIONS, 1820-1872 . ............. 39 III. RANGE AND MARKETING PROBLEMS OF THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES........ .. 68-" 17. ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, 1890-1940 . ........ 102 ^ 7. LANDS . ..... ........ 124 71. BRANDS AND QUARANTINE REGULATIONS .... 164 - ■ ■: . , .... 711. CATTLE RUSTLERS . .................... 197 Till. PAPAGOS . .. ' . 214 CONCLUSION ....... ............... 230 APPENDIX I, Number of Cattle in the Counties of Arizona, 1880-1940 .... 232 APPENDIX II, List of Cases Decided before the Court of Private Land Claims, Arizona District ........ 234 APPENDIX III, List of Cases Appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States from the Court of Private Land Claims, Arizona District . 237 BIBLIOGRAPHY .............. 240 # 5i 1? 8V % : 11 . : LIST OF. ILLUSTRATIONS 1 . v U i-v . .r 1 .. ■* : . -'i\ e"1!; Follows Number page . r * _ ,.r. : . -•■:*.•.op ' i i r : : 'V')y ■■ o 1. Map, New Spain and New Mexico ..... 11 2. Map, Pimeria Alta, 1687-1711 ...... 22 ' 3. Map, Eastern Pimerfa Alta, 1727-1741 . 26 4. Map, Spanish and Mexican Land Grants in Arizona * • • •# A5 5* Map, Forest and Indian Reservations in i ■ • i Southern Arizona, 1908 ................. 163 •: J. X'-r ■' X' X: X XX IXU'-CfO 'V;XX V'-" 6-10. Brands, Pima County, Arizona ...... 16$ 'fc v ’'X / v x V ’.-V X:'V' c x,: - ' -* : vXi v ^ ' 11-13• Brands, Live Stock Sanitary Board . 196 '.viV ■ ■■ - • •• ■■ ■ . , V V V. V? V- XV ■ :vx./ .rl;. :.,.b '' :. : ' 1-'.;x o:' X j; ; 1-V-Tic:':',} y vox'-x yu ---; XV:xo V.V.i'l'ivxvry iv xrxv, .*• 'V ■ ■ r;* •.'V-.VXX.rX' V'XVl -• • T- ' - - . - - * v ; uv-. i cU cli iii INTRODUCTION The history of the cattle industry in southern Arizona can be divided into three periods: (1) the era of Spanish exploration and mission founding, extending from 1539 to 1822; (2) the epoch of Mexican control and the small influx of Americans before 1873; and (3) the modern period of occupa tion and development. Long before cattle raising m s introduced on the At­ lantic seaboard, the Spanish had established the industry in the Southwest. Yet development in Arizona was quite irreg­ ular, being frequently retarded by outbreaks of hostile In­ diems. James Gadsden was severely criticized in 1854 for having purchased the "worthless desert" south of the Gila River. It is true that the area was Isolated and without good communication; but it was covered with luxuriant grasses which soon attracted adventuresome pioneers. After the subjugation of the previously unconquered Apaches in 1874, immigration into the territory increased rapidly. But then came inevitable overstocking and subsequent deterioration of the ranges. For over half a century the status of the industry has been shaped by the ever- prevalent necessity for provident utilization of grass and by periodical economic fluctuations resulting from climatic 2 changes and national depressions. Individual and govern­ mental attempts to bring security to the cattle industry are of primary importance, and therefore are given proper significance in the final chapters. _ ' ■ : : ; : CHAPTER .1 . THE SPANISH PERIOD • The cattle industry in Arizona got Its start during Spanish days when southern Arizona and northern Sonora were known as Pimerla Alta. Though much of the early history of the area still lies buried in the archives of Spain and Mexico, translators have made available an abundance of documentary material; thus considerable light is thrown on the beginnings of the cattle industry in Arizona. Southern.Arizona was a Spanish frontier, and not a geographical entity in itself. From 1539, the time of the first Spanish exploration in the Southwest, until 1854 the history of this area is coupled with that of Mexico. The .... 1 northward extension of a modified encomienda system from Mexico City into the grasslands of the north was made pos­ sible by the introduction of cattle and horses into the New 2 : - V' " World• Though the arid regions were never settled in any great strength, they were to be used for a very important A semi-feudal system designed to exploit both the land and its aboriginal inhabitants. ' ^ Walter P. Webb, The Great Plains, p. 91. 4 industry which was to put to practical use land which the 3 aboriginal people had considered of no value. ; The first beef animals were brought into Mexico in 4 1521 by Gregorio de Villalobos, about whom little is known except that he saw the possibilities of the cattle industry. It is not certain how many calves he imported, but one ac­ count sets the number at seven, six heifers and a young bull. However, it is known that they were of the Andalusian 5 breed from the island of Santo Domingo in the West Indies. It is not likely that Villalobos realized the strik­ ing similarities between the semi-arid regions of Mexico and the cattle-raising districts of western Spain; in fact, most of the northern provinces, including Plmerfa Alta, were yet to be explored. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that he took advantage of the likeness. The Andalusian breed proved to be very adaptable to the nbw country; they were quick- footed, sharp-horned, and subject to mutations, the off­ spring -becoming wild when on' the loose. The fact that the longhorn and the fighting bulls of the Spanish ring sprang 6 from this stock is some indication of its hardiness. -c: 3 George M. McBride, The land Systems of Mexico, p. 38. 4; Charles W. Hackett, Historical Documents Relating to New Mexico. Nueya Vizcaya . and Approaches Thereto, to 17717 TTP- 41. .. 5 Paul: I.: We liman; The Trampling Herd, p ." -]*. ° J. Frank Dobie, The Longhorns, pp. 41-42. 5 ; The Villalobos herd increased rapidly, and it was not long before other Spaniards began bringing in cattle which increased in such numbers that cowboys, the first in . - America, were needed. Many of these were captives who had been branded with a "G," for guerra. after being taken by Cortes from among the Aztecs whom he had defeated. It is quite possible that Villalobos had one of these herdsmen. If so, we can safely say that the first cowboy in this hemi- 7 sphere wore a brand before the first cow. Some idea of the rapid increase in the number of cat­ tle in Mexico during these years can be obtained from the account of Robert Tomson, an English trader who was impri-, soned in Mexico City for his indiscreet tongue, written after his return to England in the middle sixteenth century: ^ As for the victuals in the said citie, of beefe, mutton, and hennes, capons, quailes, v Guiny-cockes, and such like, all are very good cheaper To say, the whole quarter of an oxe, as much as a slave can carry away from the Butchers, for flue Tomynes, that is, flue , Royals of plate, which is just two shillings v and sixe pence, and a fat sheep at the Butchers for thre| Royals, which is eighteen pence and . .. no more. ^ Viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza continued the promotion of cattle production as his predecessor, Cortes, had done 7 Wellman, op. oit.. p. 17. - • 8 Richard Hakluyt. Voyages (ed. 1600), III, p. 447; quoted by Winship, wThe Coronado.Expedition," Bureau of Ethnology Report. XIV. pt. 1, p. 375. 6 and he also secured horses and sheep from the mother coun­ try. In 1540 he ordered an exploration of the region now known as Arizona and New Mexico, and a period of marked 9 though "brief, activity began in that direction. But before an account of the specific explorations into this region is given, it might be helpful to note a few of:the general characteristics of the Spanish expansion northward. r The conquered regions were to be incorporated into the Spanish governmental organization, and the;"native was to be; made a bulwark of the.imperial state and an adherent of the universal church. His territory would enlarge the em­ pire and his contribution of tribute and service would fill 10 the treasures of his imperial and holy masters." -In: brief, Spain1 a purposes after making a conquest were,to convert and exploit the native. This system worked well among the tractable; and permanently-settled Indians of : . ; Mexico; but the nomadic people who roamed the northern.re­ gions of New Spain were not easily conquered, would not stay converted, possessed no property to be confiscated," 11 and steadfastly refused to produce any.