1. Ch. 7 Railroads, Cattle, and Agriculture

2. Ch. 7 Railroads, Cattle, and Agriculture
Population Increase = Growing Economy
Cattle Industry
Technology limited our ability to serve beef.
Had to move cattle closer to people in order to serve fresh.
Demand was high and the supply was low after Civil War.
Texas had large population of wild cattle.
Hard to move the cattle to the eastern markets, no railroads.
Longhorn: Texas = $4, In the East = $40-$50

3. Ch. 7 Railroads, Cattle, and Agriculture
The Chisholm Trail
A trail used by cattle drivers that extended from TX – KS
San Antonio, Texas – Abilene, Kansas
Cattle would be picked up by KS Pacific Railroad and shipped to Chicago.
Important to have plenty of grass and water for cattle.

4. Ch. 7 Railroads, Cattle, and Agriculture
Cowboys
Established contracts to drive cattle north.
Cowboys wage = $24 - $40 a month
Trail boss made me money, but responsible for lost cattle.
Would take about 11 men to drive 3,000 cattle.
Needed about 60 horses.
Equipment
Good Saddle (spent 18 hours a day on a horse)
Pointed toe boots (easy for saddle stirrups, dig heel into dirt when roping cattle)
Hat (protection from sun/rain)
Chaps (Protected legs from tall brush)

6. Ch. 7 Railroads, Cattle, and Agriculture
Cowtown's
Towns who emerged/profited from cattle trade.
Ending points for trails.
Abilene, Ellsworth, Wichita, Newton, Dodge City
Competition amongst many towns.
Benefits- Cowboys spent earnings in these towns.
Negatives – TX cattle brought diseases.
End of Cattle Drive
KS bans TX cattle drivers from sections of the state.
Texas Fever – Disease carried by Longhorns, killed off local livestock.
Livestock had to travel west of McPherson, quarantine line.
Railroads finally extend to TX and end cattle drive.

7. Ch. 7 Railroads, Cattle, and Agriculture
Railroad (R.R.)
People question gov. role in railroad development.
Pacific Railroad Act
Gov. provides public land to private railroad companies.
R.R. Companies lay tracks in specific locations that the Gov. wanted.
Thought settlers would follow tracks, increased value of land.
Left over land would be sold to settlers, R.R. companies would make a profit.
Many thought these companies received too much land.

8. Ch. 7 Railroads, Cattle, and Agriculture
Living in Town vs. Country
Railroads brought business/supplies that farmers needed.
Town Living
Quicker access to goods/supplies.
Did not have to rely on environment.
Country Living
Were not totally isolated.
Farm families traveled to town on regular basis.
Some farmers had part-time work in town.
Many were commercial farmers. (Grow crops for profit)

9. Ch. 7 Railroads, Cattle, and Agriculture
Kansas Crops
Corn was the logical crop to grow.
Needed simple tools, had high yield.
Corn, Oats were used to feed livestock.
Cotton & Tobacco
Did not work in KS because of our short growing seasons.
Ryle, Barley, Castor Beans, Broomcorn were grown when in demand.
Wheat
Some early famers grew wheat.
Took off when railroad entered KS.
Still relied on horsepower, had to wait for the gasoline- tractor before production significantly increased.