Mr. Ray Rath was at home in Chicago, the center of commerce, transportation, and education in the Midwest.
In April of 1917, Mr. Rath received a postcard from Bill Jr.
I have more than one postcard from correspondents of the Rath family – I believe that many members the clan were involved in a family business which was centered in Chicago.
Bill Jr. mailed the postcard from Sheridan, then a city of almost 9000 people in north-central Wyoming.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheridan,_Wyoming
The early economy of the area was related to agriculture and food-processing; but the coming of the Burlington & Missouri Railroad in 1892 led to the development of extensive coal mines, increased tourism, and a stockyard for shipping cattle to eastern markets.
The Sheridan Inn, backed by Buffalo Bill Cody attracted visitors who were touring the West.
Today, Sheridan is halfway between Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore (completed in 1941).
+ + + + + +
The face of the postcard is a hand-colored photograph of the “Burlington Roundhouse and Shops” in Sheridan.
The Burlington Railroad was a major employer in the early 20th century, the workforce included many immigrants from eastern Europe and from the routes of the disappearing cattle drives.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burlington_Northern_Railroad
The Railroad industry was the largest engine of the US economy, and few towns or cities were not connected to a railroad line.
The businesses that supported the railroads – makers of wooden ties and steel tracks, manufacturers of parts, repair shops, telegraph and signal supplies, and roundhouses to change or reverse the direction of engines – were critical to the growth of many towns and cities.
This view of the rail yard in Sheridan might have been the most interesting view of the town to many postcard collectors of 1917..
+ + + + + + +
On the reverse, we learn that Bill Jr. has been busy and has traveled far.
He is now in Sheridan, “checking out these big shop buildings with one of the engineering parties”.
He reports that he “traveled 2200 miles last week”.
It is not clear if he is mixing business with sight-seeing, as he discusses his plans to visit Sheep River Canyon, Yellowstone Canyon, and Wind River Canyon tomorrow.
It is possible that he was investigating railroad bridges or structures in these places.
We do not know if this postcard is intended to function as a business report, as it seems to summarize the sender’s recent activities related to railroad infrastructure.
In any event, we hope that Bill Jr. learned what he sought to know and that he returned safely to Chicago.
