What was the main economic activity for the plains region?

Answer 1

Since Western lands were open and grassy, cattle ranchingbecame an economic boom. Special livestock railroad cars could haul cattle to Eastern cities from meatpacking hubs such as Chicago. The cattle had to travel from Texas. Before railroad tracks ran from Texas, cowboys would drive herds from Texas to cities such as Kansas City, where herds could be loaded in livestock cars for travel. An entrepreneur could purchase cattle for $10 a head and sell them for $40 a head. They could pay a cowboy between $80 and $90 to drive the cattle herd to the railroad. Cattle drives could take cowboys two to three months.