The End of the Open Range

The End of the Open Range… The success of the ranching industry was also the cause of it’s decline…

4 Problems Identified… The range became crowded as more ranchers moved in The grazing pastures could not support the growing number of cattle Ranchers had difficulty keeping track of their cattle, and separating them from other herds Farmers moved on to the open range after Natives were forced out. They used the same land for farming, that the cattle needed for roaming and grazing. Conflict arose

In 1873 Joseph Glidden created barbed wire to help ranchers with their problem of keeping their cattle separated from each other and to define property lines

Cattle Ranchers in Texas had operated on the open-range method of ranching…They did so because fencing materials, like wooden rails and rocks, were not easy to find.

Barbed wire played an important role in the settlement of West Texas and was important to farmers because it protected crops from being eaten by cattle. Barbed wire was also inexpensive and effective…

Barbed Wire Prices (per 100 lbs) $ $ $ $ $1.80

Barbed wire opposition… Many cowboys and other people in TX were against barbed wire because it was bringing an end to the open range. In the 1870s and 1880s fence cutting became a problem by cattle rustlers and others who did not want the open range to end. This part of Texas history is known as the “Fence Cutting Wars” The state of TX passed laws to stop fence cutting… cattle rustling on the rise in Texas

Windmills The windmill also contributed to the end of the open range and aided in the settlement of the arid West Texas plains

Windmills Then and Now Windmills were first created to pump water from underground sources. The windmill made it possible for cattle owners to fence in their cattle.. Ranchers no longer had to depend on surface water or let their cattle roam to find water

Windmill on XIT Ranch, early 1900’s

Modern Windmill Farm As time passed, scientists found that by harnessing the wind, they could produce electricity. Wind is a renewable resource and windmills today are still used to pump water and also create electricity

Other contributing factors that caused the end of the open range… Too many cattle to feed severe droughts severe winters foreign investors trying to make a quick profit bought up ranches in Texas