Auction Date:2009 Jun 24 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Location:6270 Este Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45232, United States
the earliest being a Letter from the Secretary of War, Communicating the report of Lieutenant Gustavus C. Doane upon the so-called Yellowstone Expedition of 1870. Senate Ex. Doc. No. 51, 41st Congress, 3rd Session, 3 March 1871. 40 pp, bound in blue Morocco with gilt title. From the Library of Gen. Thomas H. Ruger, but not marked as such. Probably one of the documents submitted to Congress as they considered the bill creating Yellowstone National Park in Feb. 1872 (the bill was introduced in Dec. 1871). The other two are reports from Gen. Philip Sheridan. The first is the Report dated Sept. 20, 1881, of his expedition through the Big Horn Mountains and Yellowstone National Park, etc. 8.5 x 11", 5 printed pages. Docketed on verso With compliments of Gen D. B. Sacket and Compliments Martin Maguire. Second is Sheridan's Report dated Nov. 1, 1882 of his expedition through the Territories of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. 8.5 x 11", 8 printed pages. Manuscript penciled note on bottom third of last page: Does not mention the big forest fires he left in his rear by not having his camp fires etc properly looked after. Huge tracts of fine timber were burned over. I saw the devestated [sic] areas myself years afterwards & was told Sheridans party caused them. 1910. Anna M. Ruger (Thomas Ruger's daughter)
Sheridan did not keep his reporting "objective." He developed strong opinions on his expeditions, and did not hesitate to make them known to those above him. In the earlier report,
At a distance of 15 or 20 miles north of Tongue River, in the direction of old Fort C.F. Smith, the eastern line of the reservation of the Crows is reached, and no settlement of this valuable country has been permitted. The Crows have never occupied it heretofore, and never could hold it until the Northern Cheyenes, Sioux and Arapahoes were driven out by the war of 1876. This country now forms part of the Crow reservation, which contains about six and a quarter millions of acres, and as the whole number of Crows does not exceed 3,500, this gives each man, woman and child in the tribe about 2,000 acres. The greater portion of it should be purchased from them by the Government, for what it is worth to them, and opened to settlement, and but a short time would elapse until it would be densely covered by thrifty farmers and by thousands and thousands of cattle.
In former times, the country between the Yellowstone Valley and the base of the Big Horn Mountains was the winter range of the great northern herd of buffalo. They are now being killed off and replaced by a better and more useful animal - the cattle of civilization.
That portion of this valuable country claimed, and acknowledged by the Government as belonging to the Crow Nation, never did belong to them by conquest or occupation, so far as is known...[after the other tribes were driven off] the Crows came in to spread their blankets on their soil, as they said, and gather berries and roots for a month or two in the summer. It is too valuable to remain idle for such insignificant productions.
Later, he takes up the cause of miners, as well: Just after crossing the [Continental] divide, we struck a mining camp, where we found a few miners with, I think, good claims. They were there watching their claims, but could not work them, as they were, unfortunately, on the Crow reservation - but just on the edge of it. Two or three of these men had been there for eight or nine years, waiting for some Congressional action to permit them to make their fortunes. If such relief should come, I believe they will do well, as they have good "prospects," and there are plenty more of the same kind in the neighborhood. It would be well if Congress could give relief to these poor fellows....This mining country is of no use to the Crows, and should be purchased by the Government at a nominal price, and should be thrown open to add to our gold and silver production.
He also takes up the cause of the park itself: The Congressional appropriation of $15,000 annually for this park, out of which comes the salary of the superintendent and game keeper, and perhaps some incidental expenses, is too small to give much of a balance for the improvement of the roads and trails, so that really the work done in the summer has to be so temporary that it is washed out by the winter rains. These two men cannot take care of this extensive park. A larger appropriation should be given by Congress, and an engineer officer should be detailed to expend it on improvement of the trails and roads, with a company or two of cavalry to be stationed in the park for the summer, to watch and prevent the burning of forests, and the mutilation of the craters, and other singular phenomena of the geysers.
He takes up the cause the following year: The improvements in the Park should be National, the control of it in the hands of an officer of the Government, and small appropriations be made and expended each year, for the improvement of roads and trails. It has been now placed in the hands of private parties for money making purposes, ... He goes on to say that the park should be expanded, in part to give the game more room to escape hunters. Fur hunters, especially, were killing game at a rapid rate (as many as four thousand elk were killed by skin hunters in one winter). The area he suggests is unsuitable for farming or grazing, but the game could shelter there.
Descended directly in the family of General Thomas H. Ruger
Condition: Covers of first worn and spine nearly gone. Both Sheridan reports with folds, surface soil, minor tears.
Auction Location:
6270 Este Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45232, United States
Previewing Details:
Tuesday, June 23, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday, June 24 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| Ohio |
5.5% |
Ohio State Tax |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
17.5% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
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Buyers who are present at the auction must pay the full purchase price at the time of the sale. Buyers who bid by telephone or who are absentee bidders will be invoiced within 5 days after the close of the auction and must pay the full purchase price for each purchased lot within 14 days after the date of the auction. By signing the absentee bid form or placing an absentee bid by telephone, an absentee bidder authorizes Cowan's to charge the purchase price (hammer price, plus buyer's premium) for each lot for which such bidder is the successful bidder to the credit card number provided by telephone or on the absentee bid form, unless payment in full or alternative payment instruction is received within 14 days after the date of the auction. No property will be released by Cowan's unless the purchase price has been paid in full.
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Cowan's is happy to provide a shipping estimate in advance of the auction. We have partnered with an outside shipper - Wrap-It Postal. Their services to our respected customers are based inside the Cowans facility.Please contact Wrap-It Postal by email at shipping@cowans.com, or call 513.871.1670 (ext.19). You can also submit a request for an online quote . All shipping and packing costs will be charged separately by Wrap-It Postal to your credit card on file.
Cowan's is in no way responsible for the acts or omissions of independent handlers, packers or shippers of purchased items or for any loss, damage or delay from the packing or shipping of any property.
ADVICE TO INTERNATIONAL BUYERS: Cowan's will not ship any package containing a firearm to any location other than within the United States. Buyers outside the United States must make their own shipping arrangements taking full risk for the transportation of any firearm.
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