Final answer:
The statement in question is False; raising cattle became quite common in Texas after the completion of the transcontinental railroad, which made it profitable to transport cattle to eastern markets.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Because it was hard to make a profit, raising cattle was uncommon in Texas' is False. Initially, cattle ranching in Texas did face challenges due to difficulties in transporting cattle to eastern markets. However, with the completion of the first transcontinental railroad, the situation changed drastically. Ranchers began to see the profitability in rounding up wild steers and transporting them by rail to be sold in the East, where they fetched a high price. This led to speculation in the cattle industry, and the rapid expansion of cattle ranching as a lucrative business during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Although ranching was less profitable per acre than crops like corn, the vast dry flatlands of Texas and other states with similar geography provided a suitable environment for the cattle business to thrive.