Letter from William F. Cody to George T. Beck

Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders.
of the World.

[photograph]

Col. W. F. Cody. (Buffalo Bill), President.

[photograph]

Nate Salsbury. Vice-President & Manager.

John M. Burke. General Manager.
Albert E. Sheible, Business Manager.
Jule Keen, Treasurer.

Litchfield Ill [1]
May 25 th 96 My Dear George

Your favor of May 19 th Is the most satisfactory letter I ever recd from you. But its not quite up to the Mark— As you seem to avoid what we at this end want to know and have asked time and again. We want you to list all the outside debts you have contracted And what you propose doing. As it is you contract debts and will neither give Alger or any one else any warning of what you do— As I learn you do not keep a record of them your self of course its hard for you to remember them. I understand you keep no record of the land or Town [2] lots you dispose of

Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders.
of the World.

[photograph]

Col. W. F. Cody. (Buffalo Bill), President.

[photograph]

Nate Salsbury. Vice-President & Manager.

John M. Burke. General Manager.
Albert E. Sheible, Business Manager.
Jule Keen, Treasurer.

and very soon you will have our company in an af awful mix up We are aware that every thing at that end is run like a widow woman farm. No system at all— We know why the canal did not hold the water and who turned four feet of water on at one time. for the purpose of takeing a photograph. And damageing our co thousands of dollars—

You say you had seed oats on the ground. if so why did Nagle [3] have to go after oats? I know why the horses could not stand the work. There was no care taken of them nor no judgement used. When they were first out to work— they were killed the first day. of course the breaking of up & mooveing of camp was a big expense. Because there was no system about it. And the Boss was not on the job until 11 am

George— I am speaking plain. I am getting the blame for this kind of management and I propose to land the blame where it belongs I am sick and tired of nonsense— and will stand it no longer— Business has got to be done on business principles or as the others say. I will say my self I will not put up another dollar and give my reasons for so doing. I was in hopes you would quit nonsense and get down to business—

Still your friend W. F. Cody

Note 1: Buffalo Bill's Wild West performed in Litchfield, Illinois, on May 25, 1896. The day's entry in the 1896 Route Diary: "Litchfield, Ill. / Monday, May 25. Arrived in town at 5.30 A. M. Weather very threatening all day. We all dreaded rain, as the condition of the lot and streets was bad. J. T. McCaddon left for Chicago to-night. Cowboy Ed. Goodrich, who was hurt in Louisville, Ky., went to work again to-day. / Business in the afternoon good; in the evening fair. / Lot, Driving Park. / Arena, 175 x 354." [back]

Note 2: Cody, Wyoming. [back]

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