Deadline...

[St. George]

There's been some discussion about the 'whys and wherefores' of carrying weapons in town during the era of the Frontier West.

There are those who wrongly think it was the precursor to 'Gun Control' as we see it today - but in actuality - there was a real practicality to the restriction and there was no 'malice' behind it to fuel the dark thoughts of future conspiracy buffs.

Not all Western towns followed it - but once Dodge City came up with the idea - it was more the norm than not and was widely respected (as well as expected) by all.

Dodge City, you see - was viewed as one tough cattle town and it had a 'name' for quite some time, until the City Fathers wanted no more of it as they sensed that it may become a 'permanent' town and a viable place to live.

They figured out that youth, alcohol, testosterone and attitude could combine into a volatile mix.
By adding a ready revolver close to hand - there was a fuse just begging to be lit as soon as money was lost in a card game to a Card Sharp or a 'Soiled Dove' lifted a poke.

Giving this phenomenon some thought - they compromised - and they hired men with the bark on to make sure that pretty much everybody could live through the experience of 'headin' up to Dodge'.

The city passed an Ordinance that guns could not be worn or carried North of the 'Deadline'  -which was the railroad tracks.

The South side - where 'anything went' - was wide open.
(Funny how that still seems to be...)

Thusly - all concerned could pursue their pursuits - be it business and commerce - or pure hell-raising and drinking and debauchery.

Law and Order came riding into Dodge City with such respectable law officers as W. B. 'Bat' Masterson, Ed Masterson, Wyatt Earp, Bill Tilghman, H. B. 'Ham' Bell and Charlie Bassett.

Tough men, all - with solid reputations for getting the jobs done.

As a result - the West was slowly becoming 'tamed' - though that process would take some time.

Did the 'spirit' of that Ordinance get ignored?

Most certainly - it 'was' the dawn of the Pocket Revolver and the concealment holster, after all.

However - the belt guns stayed in the bedrolls or at the Marshal's Office until 'the boys' were headed back to the herd, and the Boss got his cowboys back to work in relatively good condition.

Meanwhile - the town readied itself for another bunch of tough, sun-baked and hard young men - excited and happy and fulla hell and ready for a drink...


Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Scattered Thumbs]

Is it from here that came the expression "born on the wrong side of the tracks"?

[St. George]

Indeed...

The 'wrong side of the tracks' meant that area where the cattleyards and shipping points were - in what would become that part of town where factories would reside.

Generally less-than-desireable land for habitation - but easy for Rail and river shipping to conduct business from.

The 'right side of the tracks' was where those with property and means lived and did their business from.

It was most generally higher ground - better-suited as far as physical location for both view and drainage as well - and far away from the noise and smell and nefarious activities of the 'other side'...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Scattered Thumbs]

Indeed...

The 'wrong side of the tracks' meant that area where the cattleyards and shipping points were - in what would become that part of town where factories would reside.

Thanks again St. George.

I bet the "red light" district was on that side of the tracks too. 

[St. George]

Yup...

Asd the story goes - the 'Red Lights' were often the red-lensed Brakeman's Lanterns - left outside the premises - and so visible and plentiful that the District was effectively 'named'.

Apparently - the rythmic 'clickety-clack, echoing back'  caused more than the 'Blues in the Night', for the Railroader...;-)

Vaya,

Scouts Out!