It seems to me, considering the inconvenience of driving over the Tom Long trail, you'd be better off taking Warden's offer.

It's remarkable to what lengths you cattle owners will go for a few dollars." "Five dollars a head on a herd of eight thousand amounts to forty thousand dollars, Hatfield," Lawler reminded him.
"Hatfield, this isn't a question of dollars, it's a question of principle.

This situation is a result of a scheme to hold up the cattle owners of the state.

It's mighty plain.

The railroad company refuses cars to the cattle owners, but will supply them to buyers like Warden.
The buyers must have some assurance of getting cars, or they wouldn't buy a single hoof.