A working cowboy in the Old West might earn $25 to $40 a month, but while he was working, the ranch generally supplied his food, horses, and a place to sleep. So where did his money go?
In this episode of Way Out West, we look at cowboy wages during the great cattle-driving and open-range era, what ranch hands had to buy for themselves, what boots, hats, saddles, meals, and drinks actually cost, and what happened when a cowboy finally reached town with money in his pocket.
Some spent freely in saloons and gambling halls. Others saved, sent money home, or used their wages to acquire livestock or land.
The cowboy paycheck offers a surprisingly good look at what life was really like for the working men of the American West.
Transcript: For a full transcript of this episode, click on "Transcript"
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