after the civil war, the cattle business expanded rapidly, and the rugged. Independent individuals who raised the cattle caught the interest of the entire nation. The reality behind the romantic image of cowhands and cattle raising was short-lived, however. First the cattle became too plentiful and price of beef fell from about $35 a cow to $7. Soon barbed wire was invented to control grazing lands and water. The cattle were no longer as free to roam where they chose. In the 1880's Kansas authorities refused to let Texas cattle across the border because of the dread Texas fever carried by the long-horned cattle. The terrible winter of 1886-1887 killed thousands of cattle and many ranchers and cowhands found themselves out of work. Some went to work for sheep rancher:others entered different occupations. A few cowhands on at the old ranches to struggle through the hard times, and a few invested in small ranches of their own.