Fort History Con't ...

The use of buffalo hides for industrial belting had increased demand.

Massive bull trains, a series of up three wagons hitched together and chained to yoked trains of oxen lumbered slowly across the prairie. The wagons, usually Murphy wagons, were of two-, three- and five-ton capacities. Each team of oxen would pull up to ten tons of freight, either supplies and trade goods, or hides on the return trip. The evidence of their passing remains today. Deeply embedded ruts are still visible in places along the trail.