Expansion of Trail Driving (1865-1890)

Reason for Cattle Drives

1. After the Civil War, demand for beef grew.

2. Texas had an abundance of cattle.

3. Prices for cattle were highest in the Northeast.

4. Ranchers needed to get Texas cattle to railroad towns to ship them east and north.

Why Drives Were Profitable

1. Cattle sold for a higher price in the Northeast than in Texas.

2. It was cheaper to drive them than to ship by railroad.

Problems on the Cattle Trail

1. Disease

2. Lack of water

3. Lack of market in railroad towns

4. Stampede

5. Snakes

6. Flooded Rivers

7. Indian Attacks

Problems on the Cattle Trail

8. Angry farmers (didn’t want cattle crossing their lands)

9. Rustlers (thieves)

Texas Cattle Trails

1. Goodnight-Loving

2. Chisholm (most popular out of Texas)

3. Western

4. Sedalia

Texas Cattle Trail Map

Shawnee Trail

Chisholm Trail

Western Trail

Goodnight-Loving Trail

St. Louis

Brownsville

Abilene

Dodge City

Denver

Kansas City

Sedalia

San Antonio

Dallas

Life on the Cattle Trails

1. Started at sun-up, ended at sun set

2. Brief meal at noon

3. Meals were usually beans, bacon & coffee

4. Usually traveled 10-12 miles per day

5. Herd of 2,000-3,000 were common

6. Usually 8-12 cowboys plus cook, trail boss, & wrangler

Cowboy Clothing

1. Hat – protected eyes from sun, wide brim provided rain protection

2. Long sleeves protected from sun

3. Bandana covered eyes and mouth in dust storm

4. Chap protected legs from brush, animal bites, and chaffing

Cowboy Clothing

5. Boots had a heel to keep foot from sliding through stirrup

6. Spurs – noise soothed cattle; was a familiar sound regardless of location