The same road, and others also, preached steadily the doctrine of diversified farming.

In short, the railroads, in their own interests, did all they could to make prosperous the farms or ranches of the West.

The usual Western homestead now was part ranch and part farm, although the term "ranch" continued for many years to cover all the meanings of the farm of whatever sort.
There appeared now in the new country yet another figure of the Western civilization, the land-boomer, with his irresponsible and unregulated statements in regard to the values of these Western lands.

These men were not always desirable citizens, although of course no industry was more solid or more valuable than that of legitimate handling of the desirable lands.

"Public spirit" became a phrase now well known in any one of scores of new towns springing up on the old cow-range, each of which laid claims to be the future metropolis of the world.