The William F. Cody Archive: Documenting the life and times of Buffalo Bill

 

[drawing]Drawing The Queens Hotel Manchester Limited.

Sunday. Apr. 12th / 03.

Dear Julia.

Yours written on your 60th birth day received. I am pleased that you feel so well. I wish I could say I did. But I am going to get out of this business— that is just wearing the life out of me— there is such a nervous strain continualy— And the thing has got onto my nerves— And this must be my last summer. to day its snowing here. And we open out doors tomorrow   The way it looks now by the time. I finish my season. here. Oct 16th We will have our Mill built and in running order at our mine. then I will have a good steady income from that. I am going to fix dear old TE. up And go there and rest this winter—I have just got to go someplace where its quiet and rest. And get my nerves quiet— I think when Lou and Arta sees I am determined— they will agree to a mutual seporation. Lou. likes to be boss. She loves to be the whole thing— And if I give her all the North   Platte property— And mony besides. She will take it. She will be a rich woman- And her own boss- Now. Dear about the land below Corbett— under McCollough Peake— I am glad you liked it. I am sure its the best soil in that country. And it has a good stock range in the McCollough Peake country. that will never be taken up. have the Boys look the range over and build your main home oposite one of the big draws   that come into the river from the South— this will give you an outlet for your stock to get up in to the hills— Look the place over carefully before building in the bend about a mile below the Corbett ranch is a nice sheltered place to build— there are trees there out of the wind close to the river. the first house you put up can after while be use as your stables Now about fileing on it. The .Govenor who is President of the State Land Board. And the Burlington. Rail Road.— told me if I would give up my waterright   And segregation. The the U. S. government would take up my proposition And build a canal to irrigate all the land on North side of river from Demarris Springs to Garland— When I released my segregations under the Carey Act. the land would be thrown open for settlement under the homestead Act. of course the home steaders would have to pay for water for   irrigation— whatever the Government charged Mind you the Government does not furnish water free. Mr Ridgely can explain this to you. Should the government not build a canal to water this tract others will. The Shoshone Irrigation Co. could water the land from Corbett to Eagles Nest- by flumeing the river near Corbett— And you could by water from them— But as I understand it. the U. S. Government is going to do it. However you need not go to much expense until you know what is going to be done   this you can find out by asking those who are informed on the different laws governing lands— I dont know how well Ridgley is posted on the government and Carrie Act. and Laws— But he should get posted I will write Roy. to fix you up Some Kind of a team when you want it. But Sister. Enquire think this over use your own Judgement before   You decide to take up this land—For I might see things different if I was there—A big $5.000.000 Co is going to take a canal out of South fork up near Ishawooa— And irrigate all the land from there to Dry Fork. You might do better under their ditch. Say things are going to Boom in Cody Town And I guess I must build the big addition. with the exception of your married help. get the rest in a tent—double every one up close— take Josie in with you. You will soon need all your   rooms— that house must be got on to a paying basis.

With love

Brother

The room in the big addition that the Club was to rent can be made in to bed rooms— Must have double windows on all westside. And contractors must be made to do good work. No green lumber used. Yes have your fly screens put on and the house fixed up—

Brother

 

Mrs. Julia. Goodman

Cody.

Wyo.

U. S. A.

Banner image: Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, Wyoming, U.S.A.; Original Buffalo Bill Museum Collection, P.69.118