Geographical features play an important role in the development of any kind of business. We see business and trade centers develop since ancient times because of their geographical locations. Similarly geographical features of the West contributed to the mining and cattle bloom in mid 1800s.
The large Great Plains in the west easily provide grass to the cattle which led to cattle bloom. While as rich and resourceful hills and mountains play an important role in mining bloom in the west. These hills and mountains were rich in precious metals like gold and silver and upon their discovery, West began to be flooded by people and led more discoveries of the metals. The rail connectivity of the west with east made it easy to transport meat and metals which also contributed to the mining and cattle bloom.