An Alternative History Story Idea

 This could have been pretty cool.

Around the turn of the 20th century, inexpensive meat, a product of American prosperity that had long been available to even the poorest immigrants, was suddenly in short supply. Louisiana Representative Robert F. Broussard thought he had a solution: embrace hippopotamus ranching. He even outlined the details in his “American Hippo Bill.” 

What did his plan have to do with the water hyacinth and what became of the proposed solution?

Full story at the Smithsonian Magazine.