Cattle owners had to buy private property on which to keep their cattle on because there was no longer enough public land available for grazing. The Homestead Act of 1862 offered free land to settlers who wanted to farm and build homes, but it also led to a decrease in the amount of public land available for grazing. Additionally, the construction of railroads and the growth of agriculture in the West led to more competition for grazing land. As a result, many cattle owners had to purchase land in order to maintain their herds and have access to adequate grazing areas.
