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  • Title: Letter from William F. Cody to George T. Beck
  • Date: April 13, 1896
  • Author: Cody, William Frederick, 1846-1917
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The Continental
L. U. Maltby
Philadelphia

Apr 13 1896 [1] My Dear George—

I hope the 80% of Capital [2] will find out that they have laid out a good route.

I guess you found out that Nagles [3] outfit was allright. George— I do know that Hayden cannot do all the engineering and superintend the construction. I do know that the 80% wants to know how long its going to take to finish up the first 25000 acres— and the probable cost of same and if the construction is going to be managed  

The Continental
L. U. Maltby
Philadelphia __________ 189__

on business principles &c— Cunningham writes me he has a good colony ready to go— and men with money. And if I dont see why they are bared George. I dont want to quarrel and especially with you— You know I have been your friend But I cant see how you can figureing it that you are doing right or working for the good of our enterprise. By being away s from the work all the time— And leaving it run loose— and will give no one a report  

The Continental
L. U. Maltby
Philadelphia __________ 189__

of whats been doing or how long its going to take to finish the 25000 & the cost. You know that the land for the first colony [4] will have to be surveyed &c—

I dont see the necessaty of your staying East when there is so much to do— If Holdrege [5] does think so—

Your friend Cody

Note 1: Buffalo Bill's Wild West began preparations for the 1896 season in Philadelphia, Pa., on Monday, April 6, 1896, opening on Saturday, April 18th. The day's entry in the 1896 Route Diary: "Monday, April 13. Col. W. F. Cody, Mexicans and Cowboys arrived." [back]

Note 2: "The 80% of Capital" likely refers to the investors in the Cody Canal. [back]

Note 3: "Nagles" is S. V. Nagle, an associate of the firm of F. A. Nagle Commission Merchants of Chicago, who attempted to recruit settlers to the lands in the Big Horn Basin that were to be irrigated by the Cody Canal. [back]

Note 4: "Colony" refers to the fifty or so German migrant families that were planning to settle in the Big Horn Basin. [back]

Note 5: "Holdrege" is George Holdrege (1847-1926) who was the general manager of the Burlington rail lines west of the Mississippi. He was interested in all development along the proposed rail lines including the irrigation project Cody had undertaken. [back]

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