It has been estimated that, between 1867 and 1890, approximately 10,000,000 cattle went up the various trails in Texas US.Each year there were from 150-200 herds of about 2500 head each. A herd required 12 men, at least six saddle horses for each man, and a mess wagon and team. The cattle traveled on an average of 15 or more miles per day, or 450-500 miles per month. Each year the cattle movement up the trail required an army of 2400 cowboys and 14,000 saddle horses. From first to last, between 45,000-50,000 cowboys using almost 300,000 saddle horses took part in the drives. The cost of operating a trail unit was about $500 a month. It cost the drover between fifty and sixty cents to transport a cow from Southern Texas to the Kansas railroad stations.”William Curry Holden, “Alkali Trails,” 1930.Credit Goes To The Respective Owner
