11/04/2019
The Frisco Employes’ Magazine
Vol. II, No 3
December 1924
The Rio Grande and Fort Worth--by Ben B. Lewis
[Excerpt]
This article is supposed to be written on the subject of "Fort Worth," and by the left hind leg of Conductor Billie Moore's Krazy Kat, it is going to be written on the subject of "Fort Worth." But we start at Menard, Texas, 227 miles southwest, and progress by easy and interesting stages 227 miles northeast.
What I mean is, Fort Worth is more than a city-it is a part of West Texas; an integral, component part, and the Frisco Railway is a strong factor in welding this part to the other parts.
Consider.
It was back In 1911 when the Frisco built from Brady to Menard. Prior to that time, the cattlemen drove their herd to Brady for shipment; bringing them in from McCulloch County, Mason County, Kimble, Sutton, Edwards, Crockett, Schleicher, Tom Green, Concho, San Saba, Mills and Menard Counties. From the south, west and southwest they came in great numbers. At times, as many as twenty-five or thirty thousand head would be concentrated at Brady, raising a dust that clouded the sun, and a din that hurt the eardrums.
The main cattle trail extended from below Sonora, through Menard to Brady. Along this trail, and at certain other strategic points, the Frisco established (or caused to be established) ten "traps," consisting of blocks of land, each 640 acres in area, fenced, to accommodate the herds during the drives, and to help relieve congestion at the loading station.
After the Frisco built to Menard, the "traps" between there and Brady were no longer needed, but many of our rancher friends and patrons are still using the "traps" from Sonora to Menard, because livestock is today being driven overland from surrounding counties to the railhead at Menard. One of these "traps" adjoins the townsite of Menard, and is not only a convenient camp for the animals, but a section of it is used as a picnic ground by Menard citizens and visitors. It is almost covered by tall pecan trees. whose branches have shaded many a famous barbecue. The Texas Rangers, immortalized in song and story, have held their annual reunions there on several occasions; and never a fourth of July passes but what that "trap" is a scene of patriotic merrymaking.
Seven miles almost due west of Menard is another "trap," and about 22 miles southwest, another. This is at Fort McKavett, where Theodore Roosevelt was stationed in the early days of his military career. Southwest of Fort McKavett there are other "traps," the furthermost one being a few miles south of Sonora. In all, seven "traps" are in use today, vividly illustrating a practical, picturesque "service" on the part of the Frisco.
Menard's principal industry is the raising of cattle, horses, sheep and goats, but she also produces wool, mohair, turkeys and pecans in commercial quantities. The San Saba river runs through the town, as does the irrigation ditch of the Menard Irrigation Company; and fruits and vegetables are grown in abundant variety for home consumption. Deer, wild turkey, bass and crappie are found in fascinating numbers in Menard and surrounding counties, as can be testified by hundreds of hunters and fishermen.
Menard has several churches and schools, and her people are sturdy, progressive and ambitious. Some of them are numbered among the best known and most prosperous stockmen in the state.
