The Cheyenne Daily Ledger

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1. #1Wyoming 1885constant

   Keys: Wyoming

   Wyoming Territory, 1885: the untamed American West. Cheyenne is a bustling railroad hub where eastern money clashes with frontier grit. The surrounding landscape consists of wind-swept high plains and rolling prairies that abruptly meet the snow-capped peaks of the Laramie Mountains. The environment is beautiful but entirely unforgiving. Winters are brutal, defined by blinding blizzards and sub-zero temperatures, while summers are baked by a relentless sun. The Homestead Act offered 160 acres of land in the west to any US citizen who was able to develop it. 320 acres was given to couples. The land had to be lived on and cultivated for five years to finalize ownership. Alternatively, ownership could be obtained after six months of residence and a fee of $1.25 per acre. The undeveloped land beyond the town borders is beautiful and dangerous. Grizzly bears claim the foothills, while dwindling herds of American bison and fast pronghorn antelope graze the plains. Coyotes can be heard howling every night, and rattlesnakes are a deadly threat in the tall grass. The ranches outside of town are isolated; a neighbor could be more than a day's ride away.

2. #2Women's Rights

   Keys: acres, legal, women, progression, progressive, woman, acre, sue, homestead, law, properties, court, property, land

   Wyoming is the most progressive territory in the United States regarding women's rights, passing laws to attract women to the heavily male-dominated frontier. The Vote: In 1869, Wyoming became the first place in the United States to grant women full voting rights. Property & Independence: Under the Homestead Act, women were able to claim 160 acres of land without a husband or male signator as long as they were able to live on and develop the land for 5 years. Under the Married Women's Property Act, a woman retains full control over any property or wealth she brings into a marriage. A husband cannot legally sell his wife's land without her explicit consent. Financial Autonomy: Women have the legal right to their own wages, can enter into independent business contracts, and can bring cases to court. {Note: While legally protected, societal sexism against women still exists. There is a divide between what the law says and how boorish and “traditional” men behave.}

3. #3The Cheyenne Daily Ledger

   Keys: Daily Ledger, news, newspaper

   The local newspaper and the absolute lifeblood of Cheyenne's gossip. It reports on cattle prices, railroad schedules, political scandals, and local crimes. The paper is printed on a heavy iron press located in the back room of The Wagon Wheel general store.

4. #4Grizzly Head Saloon

   Keys: , bars, saloons, saloon, Grizzly Head, bar

   The most lucrative and infamous saloon in Cheyenne, owned and operated by David Clarke. It is a place to get a strong pour of whiskey, talk politics, play high-stakes poker, or purchase the company of a working girl for a few hours. "Respectable" women are strictly forbidden entry; any woman inside is assumed to be an entertainer or a prostitute. The establishment gets its name from a large taxidermized grizzly bear standing on its hind legs by the front doors. Local legend says the bear killed three homesteaders before David Clarke personally tracked it into the Laramie mountains and killed it with a hunting knife and a repeating rifle.

5. #5The Wagon Wheel

   Keys: , shops, stores, shopping, shop, store, mercantile, Wagon Wheel

   The premier general store in Cheyenne, owned by Julian Hayes. The store carries a bit of everything, and Julian is known to order in luxury goods from the east upon request. Inventory: Tobacco, hardware, buggy whips, horse tack, lanterns, foodstuffs, fabric, lace, sewing goods, household items, dishes, guns, ammunition, clothing, candy and coffee. Medicine: The store sells patent medicines, such as laudanum or "miracle tonics", though they are mostly alcohol-based. Julian routinely advises patrons to see Dr. Evans for serious ailments rather than relying on his tonics. The Social Hub: The store acts as a respectable social center for those who wish to converse without the rowdiness of the saloon. A ring of wooden chairs surrounds a cast-iron wood stove in the center of the room, constantly occupied by locals trading stories. Currency: Cash and barter are both accepted.

6. #6First Territorial Bank of Cheyenne

   Keys: Bank, banks, loan, finances, loans, financial

   The financial stronghold of the town, owned and operated by Elias Croft. While acting as a respectable banker, Elias uses predatory lending, exorbitant interest rates, and legal loopholes to trap struggling ranchers in debt. When they default, Elias forecloses on the land and sells it to Caleb for pennies on the dollar.

7. #7Dr. Evans' Residence and Clinic

   Keys: surgery, , doc, dentist, dr., dental, surgeon, doctor, medical, medic, Dr

   Because Cheyenne is still growing, there is no dedicated hospital building. Dr. Harrison Evans operates his medical practice out of the front parlor of his own Victorian-style home on the edge of town. The clinic always smells sharply of carbolic acid, chloroform, and pipe tobacco. There are three cots set up in the sitting room for patients who need overnight observation. Dr. Evans is notoriously overworked, frequently riding out in the middle of the night via buggy to deliver babies, set broken bones, or stitch up ranch hands.

8. #8The Cheyenne Schoolhouse

   Keys: tutor, tutors, schooling, tutoring, teacher, teaching, School, schools

   A sturdy, whitewashed, one-room wood building on the edge of town, featuring a bell tower that can be heard for miles. It serves children aged five to sixteen. The students use chalk slates and McGuffey Readers. Because of the harsh Wyoming winters, attendance fluctuates wildly.

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