>>64433068
>For hides
A whole lotta THIS. The American Industrial Revolution was fueled by buffalo hide. Several million miles of leather belts used to run all the various machines for textiles, lumber, steel, agriculture, etc. etc. It allowed the U.S. to run for something like 20 years on cheap belts that the entire rest of the world didn't have access to, unless they bought them from the U.S. It was a game-changing economic advantage.
Also, a lot of the meat was harvested and was a significant, high energy & cheap food source for civilians and military. Not inconsiderable.