About 1889 conditions began to change. The people became restless under existing policies and demanded a new deal in the interest of the masses. Settlements had formed along the valleys in the northern and central portions of the state, where water could be had for irrigation purposes, and comfortable country homes were already in existence, with the promise of many accessions in the near future and the making of prosperous and happy communities. The settlers by far outnumbered the cattlemen, and they, quite reasonably, thought they had some rights the cattlemen were bound to respect. More or less friction resulted, for which, in all human probability, some blame attaches to both parties. Notwithstanding this condition of affairs, the country continued prosperous in a fair degree, and new homes were being made along all the water courses. This was the situation up to the time of the invasion, the description of which appears in succeeding chapters. For the better understanding of the general reader, it is perhaps advisable to explain more in detail the difference between the conditions surrounding the range cattle business in its early existence and those prevailing during the period immediately preceding and leading up to the time of the invasion. In the early days the country was open from Montana to Texas; the plains and foothills were well set in grass; the streams generally were partially or fully lined with brush and the cattle roamed at will, finding abundant food everywhere. When a blizzard from the north prevailed the animals headed south and walked until the storm ceased, sometimes going more than a hundred miles without stopping. When the storm was over the tired cattle laid down to rest. A few hours later, disturbed by the pangs of hunger, they rose, turned their heads toward their home range and quietly grazed on their way north. Did not a second blizzard interpose and drive them farther south, the warm days of spring would find most of the herd on its accustomed feeding grounds. Did the winter prove severe and storm follow storm in rapid succession, the cattle would be found hundreds of miles from their home range at the spring round-up, whence they would be sent back by the cowboys. Instances are of record where Wyoming cattle drifted during the winter three hundred miles, to the Arkansas River. The general round-up system in vogue all over the range country made the return of drifted cattle almost a certainty. Thus, the losses were merely nominal, and the herds were in good condition each spring.