Reconstruction EndsReconstruction Ends

► The late 1800s were a time of growth and The late 1800s were a time of growth and expansion in Texas. People spread a network expansion in Texas. People spread a network of railroads throughout the state. Agriculture of railroads throughout the state. Agriculture boomed. Existing industries expanded and boomed. Existing industries expanded and new ones began. The growing population and new ones began. The growing population and economy meant added wealth for the state economy meant added wealth for the state and new problems and public concerns. Many and new problems and public concerns. Many political and social issues that remained from political and social issues that remained from the Reconstruction Era also had to be the Reconstruction Era also had to be addressed.addressed.

1.1.

►The cattle industry became profitable The cattle industry became profitable after the Civil War because after the Civil War because westward westward expansion of the railroads.expansion of the railroads. The cattle The cattle roamed wild during the Civil War and roamed wild during the Civil War and became cheap to buy because of their became cheap to buy because of their abundance. The Texas cattle were driven abundance. The Texas cattle were driven up north to the railroads. However, the up north to the railroads. However, the open range was closed because of the open range was closed because of the invention of barbed wire fences. invention of barbed wire fences.

5.5.

►Towns are created on the railroad routs Towns are created on the railroad routs help to populate the states.help to populate the states. People move People move into these into these cities for jobs.cities for jobs. Towns and Towns and cities cities bypassed by the railroadbypassed by the railroad became became ghost towns. ghost towns. By 1900 a network of By 1900 a network of railroads totaling some 10,000 miles railroads totaling some 10,000 miles spread over the state. Travel time spread over the state. Travel time became faster going from weeks and became faster going from weeks and days to merely hours to get from place to days to merely hours to get from place to place.place.

4.4.

►Railroads were a Railroads were a cheapcheap and and efficient efficient way to get way to get goods goods toto market. market. People People believed that the railroads would help believed that the railroads would help farms, ranches, and business to farms, ranches, and business to prosper.prosper.

Ghost town bypassedBy train

7.7.

►The railroads helped to establish the The railroads helped to establish the GrangeGrange to fight to fight unfair shipping pricesunfair shipping prices charged by the railroad.charged by the railroad.

►Farmers created the Grange so they Farmers created the Grange so they could could purchase supplies more cheaply.purchase supplies more cheaply. The Grange was both a social The Grange was both a social organization and a group calling for organization and a group calling for economic changes. It set up stores economic changes. It set up stores throughout Texas, making supplies throughout Texas, making supplies cheaper to buy.cheaper to buy.

2.2.

►FarmersFarmers and and merchants merchants wanted wanted railroads railroads to to expand expand in order to in order to market their market their goods….goods….duh!!! Farmers could load up duh!!! Farmers could load up their product on the train and send it their product on the train and send it faster to be sold in more locations. Same faster to be sold in more locations. Same goes for the merchant selling his goods, goes for the merchant selling his goods, in this case, the goods were oil, coal, salt in this case, the goods were oil, coal, salt and lumber. Oil was discovered in Brown and lumber. Oil was discovered in Brown County and originally used as a medicine County and originally used as a medicine and as a lubricant.and as a lubricant.

3.3.

► The Texas The Texas Railroad CommissionRailroad Commission was created was created and it and it stopped many unfair practices of stopped many unfair practices of railroads.railroads. Some farmers claimed that Some farmers claimed that railroads charged higher rates to some railroads charged higher rates to some farmers and merchants and they had only one farmers and merchants and they had only one railroad company to choose from. But larger railroad company to choose from. But larger businesses were charged lower rates with a businesses were charged lower rates with a choice of railroad company. Governor choice of railroad company. Governor James James S. HoggS. Hogg asked the legislature to create a asked the legislature to create a state agency to regulate railroads operating in state agency to regulate railroads operating in Texas. In 1891 the legislature established the Texas. In 1891 the legislature established the Texas Railroad CommissionTexas Railroad Commission..