In 1881, the stockyards at West Albany were among the largest in the country, as noted in these paragraphs from “The Albany Hand-book”:
Cattle Market. – The stock yards at West Albany are reached in 45 minutes from Broadway by the State st. horse cars, which leave on the half hour; or in ten minutes by trains on the Central railroad. Next to Chicago and Buffalo, this is the largest live stock market in the United States. It was, in its infancy, located at “Gallup’s,” on Washington ave., north side, between Swan and Lark sts.; afterwards at the old “Bull’s Head” on the Troy road, and then at Hunter & Galllup’s, at the end of what is now Central ave. About 15 years ago [i.e., 1866] the business was moved to it present location at West Albany, just north of the Central railroad track, where large sheds and buildings were erected for the accommodation and protection of many thousand head of stock ….
During the year ending Jan. 1, 1880, the arrivals were:
Beeves (yes, they said beeves) : 525,228 head
Sheep: 1,089,800 head
Hogs: 992,300 head
Horses: 15,184 head.
“That is, 47,805 car-loads, or a daily average of over 131 cars.”
Seems like it took a surprisingly long time to get there by horse car (perhaps the horses knew something), but not to worry, those with business at the stockyards didn’t have to stay at the downtown hotels:
“A large brick hotel, conducted by John Williamson is located in the immediate vicinity of the yards, and besides furnishing accommodation for buyers and sellers, affords space for office room to several of the firms which deal largely in live stock.”