Did cattle drivers earn a lot of money?
I’m writing a story about a cowboy who drives cattle and is having a conversation about why he doesn’t like it. Should he say he doesn’t like the pay?
I know what ‘research’ is. I don’t need you to insult my intelligence (oscar). Cattle driving is only a minor detail in my story. I DID look it up and found nothing on wages. And may I inform you that I am only in highschool, I’m not writing a novel that will be published. I am writing a short story in the action/adventure category, not a historical piece.
Drovers were paid at the end of the drive. It would seem like a significant amount of money at the time,however it was not enough.After wearing the same clothes and no baths for months the drover needed a haircut, bath and laundering plus replacement clothes and supplies. These he bought at hugely inflated prices due to the sudden influx of many cattle drives reaching the greedy railhead towns. After re-outfitting the drover indulged in pleasures that he missed for so long like a rented room, different food,alcohol,prostitutes and gambling.He was lucky if he had enough cash left to hold him over to the next season.
Rocky Mountain Cowboys 09 :cattle dogs at work
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These he bought at hugely inflated prices due to the sudden influx of many cattle drives reaching the greedy railhead towns.