From “History of Kansas,” by J. N. Hollo-
source date: 1889
availability: public-domain

From “History of Kansas,” by J. N. Hollo- way, A. M., 1868, the information is learned that, according to the record kept by Messrs. Hays & Co., at Council Grove, Kansas, the lead- ing member of the firm being a brother of May Hays, of San Miguel county, there were en- gaged in the New Mexico trade in 1860, 5,984 men; 2,170 wagons; 464 horses, 5,933 mules; 17,836 oxen. The wagons were loaded with 5,500 pounds each on an average, making an aggregate of 6,000 tons. The capital employed in the carrying on of this overland transporta- tion for one season alone was not far from $2,000,000.— Optic.