In 1867 a venturous drover took a herd across the Indian Nations, bound for California, and only abandoned the project because the Plains Indians were then very bad in the country to the north.

In 1869 several herds were driven from Texas to Nevada.

These were side trails of the main cattle road.

It seemed clear that a great population in the North needed the cheap beef of Texas, and the main question appeared to be one of transportation.

No proper means for this offered.