Table of Contents
Was one of the most difficult tasks that homesteaders faced?
As settlers and homesteaders moved westward to improve the land given to them through the Homestead Act, they faced a difficult and often insurmountable challenge. The land was difficult to farm, there were few building materials, and harsh weather, insects, and inexperience led to frequent setbacks.
When did the most successful mining took place in this boomtown?
The California Gold Rush took place between 1848 and 1855. During this time gold was discovered in California. Over 300,000 people rushed to California to find gold and “strike it rich”.
Why do ranchers employ cowhands?
ranchers hired cowhands to ride on horseback next to their herd of cattle to make them move. They had to stay near rivers so the cattle could drink. They were often hundreds of miles from cattle ranches so they hired cowhands to take their cattle on cattle drives to the railheads.
How much could ranchers sell cattle in the East for?
Cattle ranchers and eastern businessmen realized that it was profitable to round up the wild steers and transport them by rail to be sold in the East for as much as thirty to fifty dollars per head.
What difficulties did homesteaders face?
The rigors of this new way of life presented many challenges and difficulties to homesteaders. The land was dry and barren, and homesteaders lost crops to hail, droughts, insect swarms, and more. There were few materials with which to build, and early homes were made of mud, which did not stand up to the elements.
What conditions made life difficult for homesteaders?
The climate was indeed temperate, but obstacles to farming were many: clearing land of immense timber, poor soil drainage, rivers prone to flooding, difficulty in ripening of grain crops, and no marketplace to sell the crops which would grow. Homesteaders would begin their claim by building a small cabin.
What difficulties did miners face?
Some miners were injured in explosions or electrocuted. Others fell off ladders, slipped on rocks, inhaled silica dust, or suffered from mercury, lead or arsenic poisoning. Many got sick from drinking dirty water and living too close together.
What was life like in a boomtown?
Life in boom towns were harsh and rushed for people were constantly working and moving around to create a profit for themselves. Vigilantes could create pressure on other people living in the towns and often took matters into their own hands acting as a law enforcement group.
What do ranch hands eat?
Hands relished sourdough biscuits, which hands favored over those make with buttermilk or baking powder. Ranch cooks baked biscuits in the versatile Dutch oven. Dinner (the noon-time meal) evening and supper often looked very similar, with the addition of beef and beans.
How much did Cowboys make on a cattle drive?
The average cowboy in the West made about $25 to $40 a month. In addition to herding cattle, they also helped care for horses, repaired fences and buildings, worked cattle drives and in some cases helped establish frontier towns.