In 1857 the "cattle trail" was broken, a herd being driven "on grass" from Texas to Illinois—a truly remarkable performance. But the Civil War cut off the outlet for these cattle and they were left to multiply, awaiting the day of peace.
Then it was discovered that the grass of the Northern plains was as nutritious as that of Texas, and cattle could live outside all winter—could rustle forage. It was also discovered that Southern cattle gained more weight if driven North at 3 or 4 years of age, and the beef was of a superior quality. Immediately the plains, both North and South, must be made safe for the cattle business. The buffalo must be killed off and the Indians be confined on reservations. This task was complete about 1870, and the "trailing" of cattle from the breeding grounds in Texas to the fattening grounds in the North became an institution in Western life.
In 1871, 600,000 head of stock came over the trail from Texas. The sixteen years from 1869 to 1884, inclusive, show almost 5,000,000 head driven Northland—an average of more than 305,000 per year.
So vast a movement in a single industry must have its social reflexes, and we see the development of the "cow towns"—Newton, Abilene, Great Bend, Ellsworth, Dodge City, Hayes City and Ogallala—with a life as colorful and exciting as that furnished by any bonanza, handled 400,000 cattle in the year 1884.
After 1884 the trail declined because the railways began to penetrate to the heart of the cattle country. The corn fields were being pushed Westward and the winter feeding of cattle developed to link the pastures with the farms. The refrigeration of meat and shipment of frozen carcasses to Europe in 1876
