 By 1880, sheep outnumbered cattle 55,597 to 7,966, and Kinney County became an important source of wool.The construction of the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway (later part of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and today part of the Union Pacific Railroad) through Spofford in 1883 gave the wool and mohair industry access to markets.At the same time it also helped to bring in numerous new settlers.