The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-09-28
WHAT H a RANCH LIKE =
An Answer to a Question often Asked
by People Down East.


During a business trip to the interior
of the territory last summer one of the
pleasantest ranches it was my pleasure
to stop at along the road was the b V
ranch. which is situated on Big Bear
creek. There are probably plenty Of
ranches in the territory Just as cheer
fully located and many of them more
valuable but a more pleasant place to
hit upon on a hot day after a laborous
ride through the dust can scarcely be
imagined. The main Bear creek runs
almost due east and in the vicinity of
the B V ranch courses through a valley
with sides AS precipitous as portions of
Horse creek. The valley at this point
is narrow while the stream itself is II
nice body of water with a good flow to
it. The main trail leads across the
hills through as rugged a stretch
of country as one could well desire
to run cattle through. Steep
hillsides, deep gulches and wild looking
divides are jumbled together for a dis
tance Of several miles. Then u broad
plateau of prairie stretching through
the Fox creek country and almost to
Box Elder is reached. The Il V ranch
is to the right Of the trail as you go
north. Most of that portion of the
valley is well studded with timber.
The ranch itself lies in the shadow of
the steep bluffs that overlook it. 1t is
so thickly surrounded by trees that one
stumbles on ii before he is aware of it.
Passing along the road that leads to the
main entrance a large strongly built
double corral is seen to the right. A gate
i~nterposes itself across the roadway at
this point but the latch-string is al
ways out to the elatsd traYe Ter. Pass
ing through this the visitor enters a
long avenue lined with stately tress and
resembling in its vernal beauties a
country lane. By a sudden turn in the
road he is brought to the ranch proper
with its appurtenances. Tie whole is
completely shaded by trees. To the
left is a spring house in which milk
and other p~erishable articles are kept.
A beautiful spring gushes from here
and empties itself INTO a large trough
formed from the shell of a tree. Here
such of the COW ponies rs are
sufficiently educated may drink.
L confess that mine was not
esthetic enough to drink from an
artificial receptacle and l was forced to
take him to the creek. Closely gather
ed together to the right are half a
dozen small buildings. Before one of
these stand a couple of men, n with
his sleeves rolled up and from appear
ances the outfit cook. Through the
open door a cook stove is seen, while a
number of pans glisten on the wall.
Bat above all a savory smell proceeds
from the interior going from the
nostrils of the hungry visitor clean to
his heart. Another small building
standing near is the sleeping quarters.
A tier of shelves running around the
interior contain the hunks. A few
men are gathered about the door re-
pairing their saddle cinches and other
trappings. A stable in which a few
horses are grain fed; a wagon shed and
a hut for saddles and miscellaneous
plumber constitute the remainder of
the outfit. A dozen yards from the
spring house a building was going up
which is probably completed by this
tune. This will hereafter be the ranch
proper, that is it will be used for culin-
airy and sleeping purposes. The build
ing is of rough stone, two stories in
height and will not only be substantial
and comfortable but ornamental. All
the other buildings are of course built
ofhewn logs, the interstices being filled
with rough mortar.
The firm claim /, believe 1900 head
of cattle.
POLITICAL.