Seen by the map, almost every railroad crosses into Fort Worth in Texas. It was also a major hub for cattle drives, which is why the railroads went there also.
Students should note that three rail lines run through Fort Worth from a variety of directions and that this aided in the city’s prosperity at the time. Students should connect the cattle industry to the city and recognize the connection between transportation and economic growth. Sample response: With three different railroad lines merging through Fort Worth, the city became a major hub for shipping. With consumer goods traveling north, south, east, and west through Fort Worth, there were many opportunities for work. People were needed to handle and manage all the freight supplies and run the railroads. In turn, businesses offering services such as banks and hotels flourished. The cattle industry also flourished here with the development of the refrigerated car. Railroads replaced slow and dangerous cattle drives, and multiple train lines redirected the transport of cattle from Kansas and Missouri to Fort Worth. The cattle industry in Fort Worth provided more jobs, drawing more settlers who spent more money and aided in the growth of the city.
