Historical Clippings Book (HC-03) (210 pages)

0 Barbed-Wire Collector Has Point: ‘Hobby Provides Link With Old West Cae By Don Speich There are stamp collectors, ‘Goin collectors and book col‘Aéctors. In fact, there are colectors of just about everything’ even collectors of collections, It still is surprising, however, to meet a man who collects barbed wire. Auburn S. Cow of Elverta began his unusual hobby in 1934 /and over the years has accumulated more than 80 varieties . of wire, most of which dates . back to the late 19th Century. . “The many patterns reflect the attempts of various individuals to avoid designs previous patented by other per“sons,” says Coe. “Barbed wire is so standardized now that there are only about a half-dozen different err ee aauenetareen] types being manufactured. However, at one time the varieties of wire were almost as Numerous as the people who used it.”” Range Wars in Montana, says that perhaps the most interesting aspect of his collection is the Western history tied up with the introduction and usage of barbed wire. As every Western movie fan knows, the advent of barbed fencing in the late 19th century spurred an untold number of disputes and range wars between cattlemen,who were used to the open range, and farmers, who claimed the indiscriminate grazing of cattle was destroying their crops. It is not clear who first invented barbed wire, Coe says, but it obviously was motivated by the necessity to halt the roaming cows. Almost overnight it became a blessing for the farmer and a curse for the cattleman, who viewed it as the end to the era of vast cattle empires. At any rate, Coe adds, in the 1870s barbed wire gave the ever expanding agricultural frontier the momentum and protection it needed. Everybody got into the act by making their own “special” type; hence, the many different patterns, After much conflict and controversy, he says, it became clear that barbed wire was here to stay, even to the extent that “the cattleman soon found its use essential if he expected to prosper. “It permitted him to improve his herd under a_ controlled breeding program. The new Coe, who once was a rancher. breed grew several pounds heavier but required no more grass than the previous openrange variety. Because of this, barbed wire by the train loan was shipped into Texas and the other plains states during this period.” Oddity In Fencing Coe, who has _ traveled through many Western states looking for unusual pieces of wire, says that during his search for samples he often has noticed a curious thing; “Sometimes an owner would incorporate a short length of wire into his fence for the sole Purpose of preserving it because it was so much different than the wire he was using. “While examining a fence in California one day, I noticed that one of the strands had a barb of flat steel with a hole in. the center and shaped like an elongated diamond. “The owner told me his great grandfather had shipped the wire around the Horn. The wire Was smooth and the barbs were sent separately in kegs. After arriving in the state, the barb had to be fed on one of the wires by hand, properly spaced, and twisted around the other wire to hold them in place. Obviously it took a lot of time and work.” Used During War In addition to his samples from the United States, Coe has acquired some from Europe, including a strand from France’ which he believes was part of a wire entanglement used during World War I. Coe recently retired as the farm labor supervisor for the State Department of Employment. nee ria 3: a Bi ao a te o“ BB, _ Page C4 THE SACRAMENTO BEE Sunday, January 29, 1967 ere eV 53 Auburn S, Coe examines a piece of barbed wire from France which he is adding to his collection. Bee Photo 681.

0 Barbed-Wire Collector Has Point: ‘Hobby Provides Link With Old West Cae By Don Speich There are stamp collectors, ‘Goin collectors and book col‘Aéctors. In fact, there are colectors of just about everything’ even collectors of collections, It still is surprising, however, to meet a man who collects barbed wire. Auburn S. Cow of Elverta began his unusual hobby in 1934 /and over the years has accumulated more than 80 varieties . of wire, most of which dates . back to the late 19th Century. . “The many patterns reflect the attempts of various individuals to avoid designs previous patented by other per“sons,” says Coe. “Barbed wire is so standardized now that there are only about a half-dozen different err ee aauenetareen] types being manufactured. However, at one time the varieties of wire were almost as Numerous as the people who used it.”” Range Wars in Montana, says that perhaps the most interesting aspect of his collection is the Western history tied up with the introduction and usage of barbed wire. As every Western movie fan knows, the advent of barbed fencing in the late 19th century spurred an untold number of disputes and range wars between cattlemen,who were used to the open range, and farmers, who claimed the indiscriminate grazing of cattle was destroying their crops. It is not clear who first invented barbed wire, Coe says, but it obviously was motivated by the necessity to halt the roaming cows. Almost overnight it became a blessing for the farmer and a curse for the cattleman, who viewed it as the end to the era of vast cattle empires. At any rate, Coe adds, in the 1870s barbed wire gave the ever expanding agricultural frontier the momentum and protection it needed. Everybody got into the act by making their own “special” type; hence, the many different patterns, After much conflict and controversy, he says, it became clear that barbed wire was here to stay, even to the extent that “the cattleman soon found its use essential if he expected to prosper. “It permitted him to improve his herd under a_ controlled breeding program. The new

Coe, who once was a rancher. breed grew several pounds heavier but required no more grass than the previous openrange variety. Because of this, barbed wire by the train loan was shipped into Texas and the other plains states during this period.” Oddity In Fencing Coe, who has _ traveled through many Western states looking for unusual pieces of wire, says that during his search for samples he often has noticed a curious thing; “Sometimes an owner would incorporate a short length of wire into his fence for the sole Purpose of preserving it because it was so much different than the wire he was using. “While examining a fence in California one day, I noticed that one of the strands had a barb of flat steel with a hole in. the center and shaped like an elongated diamond. “The owner told me his great grandfather had shipped the wire around the Horn. The wire Was smooth and the barbs were sent separately in kegs. After arriving in the state, the barb had to be fed on one of the wires by hand, properly spaced, and twisted around the other wire to hold them in place. Obviously it took a lot of time and work.” Used During War In addition to his samples from the United States, Coe has acquired some from Europe, including a strand from France’ which he believes was part of a wire entanglement used during World War I. Coe recently retired as the farm labor supervisor for the State Department of Employment. nee ria 3: a Bi ao a te o“ BB, _ Page C4 THE SACRAMENTO BEE Sunday, January 29, 1967 ere eV 53 Auburn S, Coe examines a piece of barbed wire from France which he is adding to his collection. Bee Photo 681.