But the cattle quarantine laws of 1885 nearly broke up the long drive of that year.

Men began to talk of fencing off the trails, and keeping the northbound herds within the fences--a thing obviously impossible.
The railroads soon rendered this discussion needless.

Their agents went down to Texas and convinced the shippers that it would be cheaper and safer to put their cows on cattle trains and ship them directly to the ranges where they were to be delivered.

And in time the rails running north and south across the Staked Plains into the heart of the lower range began to carry most of the cattle.

So ended the old cattle trails.
What date shall we fix for the setting of the sun of that last frontier?
Perhaps the year 1885 is as accurate as any--the time when the cattle trails practically ceased to bring north their vast tribute.