Waco in McLennan County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The Texas Rangers and the Fence Cutters
Photographed by James Hulse, July 19, 2021
1. The Texas Rangers and the Fence Cutters Marker
Before 1875 in Texas, cattle roamed over thousands of acres of public land, and free grazing became a tradition. After 1875, however, an increasing farm populace tended to protect crops and other property with barbed wire fences which were resented by stockraisers. Cattle losses in drouths of the 1880s provoked such widespread cutting of fences that the Texas government recognized this as a crime and in 1884 enacted laws and measures to curb the practice.
Texas Rangers were dispatched by the governor at the call of county judges and sheriffs to apprehend the fence cutters. They operated from the Red River to the Rio Grande, and from the panhandle to the pine woods of east Texas. Disguise and concealment were required, and one of the Rangers who won praise, for his work pronounced it the most disagreeable duty in the world. The vigorous effort went on for some years. Finally, however, stockmen who had wanted to restore the open range were won over to fencing their own lands and using windmills to water their cattle herds. The Texas Rangers had in one more instance helped to stabilize life in the west.
Erected 1976 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 5436.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Law Enforcement. In addition, it is included in the Windmills series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.
Location. 31° 33.321′ N, 97° 7.137′ W. Marker is in Waco, Texas, in McLennan County. It is at the intersection of Texas Ranger Trail and North Interstate 35 Frontage Road, on the right when traveling north on Texas Ranger Trail. The marker is located on the Texas Ranger Trail by the parking lot and next to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Texas Ranger Trail,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Waco (here, next to this marker); The Original Fort Fisher (within shouting distance of this marker); First Street Cemetery (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Confederate Veterans Memorial (about 300 feet away); Thomas Hudson Barron (about 300 feet away); General Richard Harrison (about 300 feet away); 143rd Infantry 36th Division Memorial (about 300 feet away); Samuel Johan Forsgard (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Waco.
Also see . . . Fence Cutting.
Fence cutting in Texas in the summer and fall of 1883 was a part of the conflict between landless cattlemen(Submitted on July 25, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)who wanted to retain practices of the open range and those who bought barbed wire to fence the land to establish themselves on permanent ranches. The fence war was precipitated by the drought of 1883, which made it all the harder for the cowman without land of his own to find the grass and water necessary for his herds. Source: The Handbook of TexasPhotographed by James Hulse, July 19, 20212. The Texas Rangers and the Fence Cutters Marker is the marker in the middle of the three markers
Photographed by James Hulse, July 19, 2021
3. The markers are in front of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum
Photographed by James Hulse, July 19, 2021
4. The Texas Ranger statue by Don Hunt
Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 647 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 25, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
