Letter from William F. Cody to George T. Beck, October 4, 1895

Letter from William F. Cody to George T. Beck, October 4, 1895 Cody, William Frederick, 1846-1917 Johnston, Jeremy Christianson, Frank Seefeldt, Douglas, 1964- Supported in part by a grant from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, a program of the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. 2013 William F. Cody Archive University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Digital Research in the Humanities

319 Love Library University of Nebraska–Lincoln Lincoln, NE 68588-4100 cdrh@unlnotes.unl.edu

Lincoln, Nebraska

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE 68588-4100

wfc.css00454

William E. Hymer (~1853-1933) was one of the early members of the Shoshone Land and Irrigation Company. Horace C. Alger (1857-1906) was a banker from Sheridan, Wyoming, mayor of Sheridan in 1889, and a candidate for Governor of Wyoming in 1898. Cody, Beck, and Alger were responsible for developing the Shoshone Irrigation Company. Michael Hoke Smith (1855-1931) was the 19th United States Secretary of the Interior from March 6, 1893, to September 1, 1896. Senator Francis Emroy Warren (1844-1929) was a Republican Senator representing Wyoming from 1890-1893 before returning to his business pursuits; he was re-elected to the Senate from March 4, 1895, to November 24, 1929, but died while in office. Robert Foote was a state senator representing Johnson County, Wyoming; Foote led the effort against the Carey Act in Wyoming. Cody, William Frederick, 1846-1917 Letter from William F. Cody to George T. Beck October 4, 1895 2 pages University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center, Buffalo Bill Letters to George T. Beck (Acc. #9972) ah031302-03

2 hand-written pages

2 pages

Media: black ink

Texts Correspondence Buffalo Bill's Wyoming Carey Act of 1894 Beck, George Washington Thornton, 1856-1943 Hymer, William Ebert, 1853-1933 Smith, Michael Hoke, 1855-1931 Warren, Francis E. (Francis Emroy), 1844-1929 Foote, Robert, 1834-1916 Shoshone Irrigation District (Wyo.) Weakly, Laura K. Added annotation Weakly, Laura K. Initial encoding Clark, Linda Proofing Boyce, Gary Transcription Adams, Deb Transcription

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

I have not been able to write a letter to any one. Since I got near N. Y. then came Baltimore & Washington2. And to day we did not get here until 11 am— had to make parade & just finished first show. I recd your letters— I have just wired Hymer & Alger to send you word quick to make ditch 20 feet wide on bottom. I have written 25 letters at least saying no use to build a little ditch I came near falling dead. & I some some tall cussing when I read your letter about a 15 foot ditch after all the letters I have

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

Col. W. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill), President.Nate Salsbury, Vice-Pres't and Manager.John M. Burke, . . . General Manager.Albert E. Scheible, . . . Business Manager.Jule Keen, . . . Treasurer. written to the contrary. if it cantcan't be 20 feet on the bottom call me out I will quit. hope you are looking out for lumber for headgate. How do you like Mr. Foote3? I seen Hoke Smith4. Also Senator Warren5— And told them that if they beleivedbelieved him6 And did not want the ditches built for my part I would quit.

Well I will write you Sunday. Must go & give a show— There is twenty people waiting to see me—

Bill.

Say. I got a letter from Heck.

Note 1: The year is not inscribed by Cody but is 1895 as determined by the Routes List: Buffalo Bill's Wild West performed in Richmond, Virginia, on October 4, 1895. Note 2: Cody implies he is very busy with visitors while Buffalo Bill's Wild West performs near New York, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. Note 3: "Mr. Foote" is Robert Foote (1834-1916), a democrat and state senator representing Johnson County, Wyoming. Foote led the effort against the Carey Act in Wyoming. Cody threatened to quit the project as a result of Foote's accusation that Cody was subverting the interests of Wyoming and of the "real people" of the Big Horn Basin. Note 4: Michael Hoke Smith (1855-1931) was the 19th United States Secretary of the Interior from March 6, 1893, to September 1, 1896. Note 5: Francis Emroy Warren (1844-1929), a Republican Senator representing Wyoming during 1890-1893 before returning to his business pursuits. Warren was re-elected to the Senate from March 4, 1895, to November 24, 1929, but died while in office. Note 6: "Him" refers to Wyoming Senator Robert Foote in Foote's opposition to the Cody Canal.