cattle barons

•  By 1970s there was a beef bonanza in the west cattle drives continued but the real growth was in ranching 
• Big profits seen as a sure thing free grass and almost free land and cheap rail transport 
• Investors poured money into the cattle industry looking for big profits 

  Big ranches most efficient business more money 
• A few large ranches backed by wealthy investors dominated which were the cattle barons 
• Dominance in places like wyoming gave them huge influence they were not opposed of using dubious tactics 
• They frequently came into to conflict with smaller ranches and homesteads 
• Meat packing in the east