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

 

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.

Ottumwa Ia [1]
Sep Oct 2d 96

My Dear George

I have just recd a letter from Eddy dated Sep 28th which tells me you have not closed down. I appreciate your motive And if I had the money or could borrow it I would say hang on until Election day. Although I dont beleive your small force are doing the amount of work they should do As your estimates to finish to Town [2] grows larger each month— And if that is true I cant see where your force makes any showing. Bleistein and Buffalo men [3] have not put up a dollar since the 6000 they gave to Alger in June. And they positively refuse to put up moore— You must take time to write them the reasons why you have not closed down— As they and my self ordered you to do. You have got to shoulder the responsability. If we get into a law suit— As you have continued contrary to orders— And for   my part. I approove of it— And I beleive we have got to take chances on keeping them employed till Election day. But then if there is no chance of selling bonds You must close down. Will you take the trouble to tell me whether you will or not? If you should find you were seriously threatened with a law suit There are horses there and some man could ride to the nearest telegraph station & send me a telegram how much money it would take to stop suit— And I would in some way furnish the money. But if this could not be done any easier than it takes Alger to keep me posted of what we owe I dont think this could be done. Alger is to lazy or wont keep me posted wont even acknowlige m receipt of money I send him Wont tell me if Stokes [4] got his stock. The only time I hear from him is when he wires for more money But he wont tell where the money goes to. I sent him $5000 asked him to pay Red Lodge firms [5] well he did not pay them is all I know. I cant form   any idea of how much it will take to keep present force until election. and the entire indebtedness of Co— If you people would get up energy enough at that end to write a business letter. You could not tell as you dont know who Alger has paid— And Alger wouldnt tell Christ.

You folks from Sheridan wont leave me to carry the responsibility in ignorance— If I had a few stenographers and clerks I would write more

So the goose that lays the golden egg keeps on about her business not knowing whats going on—

Best wishes—

Your

Col

P.S. This 25000 acres will be all the ditch building I will want— I'm no hog—

Bill

 

P. S.
George.
As you did not close down why did you not inform me. your self. I have told the co— you had closed down. what shall I tell them Now—?

Bill

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