History of barbed wire
Barbed wire changed our country. It helped ranchers tame the land. The wire is a very effective tool it keeps livestock in a closed off area. Wooden fences were not used very much they cost more and were difficult to get on the prairie and plains because there were few trees that grow there. Farmers were forced to make houses out of sod because of the shortage of wood. The first wire fence was made with only one wire it was broken by the weight of the cattle pressing against it. Michael Kelly made a big improvement to the wire fencing. He twisted two strands together to form a cable for barbs. Barbed wire was also known at thorny fence. The barbs made the cattle stay further away. Cowboys did not like the wire when they were herding cattle they could not get through it so they often cut it to get through. If there were stampedes the cattle would run right into the barbed wire and get torn up.
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