ALS signed “W. F. Cody,” one page, 6 x 9.5, on letterhead of The Irma: Buffalo Bill’s Hotel In The Rockies, Cody, Wyoming, November 21, 1904. Letter to William Bell. In full: “Your favor, also one from Mr. Yerger, at hand. Since my return to Wyoming I have been extremely busy. Quite a number of my English friends are leaving for Europe today. I am really very sorry that you have set the time as you have to visit me, as previous business arrangmenets [sic] will compel me to leave here on Dec. 5th and its hard telling when I will be back here at Cody as my appointments take me to several different places throughout the East, including New York. I am very sorry as it would have given me great pleasure to have entertained you here. Mr. Yerger is coming with the expectation of having some shooting. This he cannot have in Wyoming at this time of the year, as Wyoming has very close game laws which extend from the 15th of September to the 15th of November only.
The Mr. Russell of whom you speak has no connection with me, for all the available land under my canal has been sold. However, there are other big canals in course of construction, one of which is constructed by the National Government, another by private parties. These canals will furnish water to irrigate some four hundred thousand acres of land, but neither of them are ready to invite settlement yet. The town of Cody is improving fast and has a wonderful future. A man could not go astray at buying stray lots in said town. I will be at the Hoffman House, New York City on Dec. 10th and will let you know from there about what time I will return to this part of the country, but I fear that I will not be home much this winter as I would wish to so as to be able to entertain you and your friends, and especially my little namesake. Be kind enough to inform Mr. Yerger.” In very good condition, with intersecting folds (a couple of tiny separations along horizontal folds), scattered light toning and soiling, and light brushing to signature. Accompanied by an unrelated “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West combined with Pawnee Bill’s Great Far East” envelope picturing Buffalo Bill and George W. Lillie (Pawnee Bill), addressed by Cody to “Wm Bell, Show Print, Sigourney, Iowa.”
Cody first entered the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming in the 1870s, with the scenery, abundance of fish and game, and the potential for land development drawing him back in the mid-1890s. A community development later began to take shape, named after the soldier and showman himself, with Cody, Wyoming incorporated in 1902. Two years later, Cody, who opened his famous hotel, the Irma (named after his daughter with the structure displayed on this letterhead) continued to sing the praises of his namesake, proclaiming here that the “town of Cody is improving fast and has a wonderful future. A man could not go astray at buying stray lots in said town.” A brilliant businessman, Cody later persuaded his friend, Theodore Roosevelt, to establish the Bureau of Reclamation and to construct the Shoshone Dam and Reservoir, later renamed the Buffalo Bill Dam and Reservoir, to help the town grow. As stated by Cody, the waterways, “one of which is constructed by the National Government, another by private parties...will furnish water to irrigate some four hundred thousand acres of land.” An interesting letter proclaiming the virtues of western living! Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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