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<br />UOll20}. <br /> <br />;~.<:>:,'..- ~~."~:'~~' .;.';:-.:-:.. <br /> <br />:'-"'-":'. ...-:-,-.'. <br /> <br />.... ,- <br /> <br />;.'. <br />, <br />" '. <br />. ", - ~ '. <br />..,.~... ". . <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />.' <br /> <br />CRASS, CREAKING WAGONS, TRAILING LONGHORNS <br /> <br />29 <br /> <br />'." -'. <br />. " . . . . - <br /> <br />;~~~~1~ <br /> <br />which destroyed a large percentage of the native cattle of Eng- <br />land. This, added to the fact that factories were very active, <br />made an abnormal demand for beef at the same time the United <br />States was almost bankrupt from the Civil War, but England <br />was loaded with money. Thus the stage was set for English <br />capital and English management to promote the great cattle <br />companies of the western United States. These companies were <br />colossal, gigantic and for a decade they boomed and prospered. <br />With them came improved breeds of cattle and sheep. They <br />brought .farm management and conservation ideas. With them <br />came the Scot who had a special ability in cattle breeding and <br />handling. The industry was further stimulated by railroad ex- <br />pansion, the development of refrigerator cars and ships, and the <br />returned soldier settlement stimulas of the Civil War's close. <br /> <br />This period was marked by a great immigration into the <br />entire Missouri Valley of eminently good citizens from Scan- <br />dinavia, from the Ukraine, from Germany and in fact from all <br />Europe to a lesser degree. They brought irrigation knowledge. <br />Mention has already been ma,de of the Scottsbluff project but <br />the influence is found almost everywhere. These hard-working, <br />liberty-loving, people brought" to the valley improved methods <br />from Europe, They and their theories have made good, <br /> <br />The Civil War's end released thousands of IVen trained <br />to outdoor life who had no place to go except westward. Thus <br />the great cattle drives were bossed by southern ex-officers as <br />vast cattle herds were moved northward from Texas. Here is <br />one illustration of the great influence the returned soldier had <br />on the cattle industry. The black hat of the northern army was <br />issued as war surplus to the reservation Indians and sold in large <br />quantities to railroad road crews, teamsters, miners and settlers. <br />The white hat, uniform of Dixie, was' worn with pride by the <br />Texas trail bosses and their cowboys, The influence is still evi- <br />dent today as the cowboy wears for dress a light colored hat. <br /> <br />From 1865 to 1889, more than two decades, cattle was king. <br /> <br />.. :.. . -.'. - <br />.'- " -." - . . . <br />:7:.~.:;-:" .;...:..:-..-:::.... .~ ..:' <br />. ". ...~. . '. . '. .::. <br /> <br />. : :~;-'" .-..~.::-~~...::. <br />..' ';.:::...:...?.......... .~:.'. <br /> <br />..... . '. <br />..... ::..;~:., >~< ::.:<:":-:.<. <br />. ," - .'. -~:..' . ":' <br />- ". .... .. . <br />. .::.' >~~..:'-::.-.' .:;.:' <br />.:-.":...<~:.-.~..,:':. _::::.':'.:': <br />.....-..,.... ," <br /> <br />:.:.-:~ .:.:- .:."..}\:>."' ..:>.:~": <br />,.-:\ .:.'., ....,..:. "::. .:.... <br />..' .';.:: '~:.-'/-'-' -.-:: :;' <br /> <br />~...:.:.:::<..:.: ..;....:.:'. '" . <br />" <br />..' .... ;:~:>::.>......:-:... <br /> <br />...-'. <br /> <br />:~:.: ::~;::..:~.~:\~/.:. .::..: ~':,>~:.~ <br /> <br />;~J~l~:~ <br /> <br />. .~.. ':. ......-:.. -..;. '.;:.: <br />- :;'- .:;::;:~~.y:.:<~:.... <br />..,;'. ..' .'-..----. <br /> <br />.,<.~: .::-:.: .:.'. ---..... . <br />