April 20, 1899: Holland from Downey - 



Important



Laramie, Wyoming, April 20th 1899

Dr. W. J. Holland

Pittsburgh, Penna.



Dear Sir:

In reference to your former letter written to me as to the complications which might arise over the Reed claims containing fossils, I think we canvassed every view of the matter except one, which has occurred to me since. The University of Wyoming as I understood from your statement (I have talked with no one here about the matter) laid claim to the fossil or fossils which Reed had partially uncovered. If this fossil is as valuable as represented, it might be that the University of Wyoming could replevin the same under our laws, which would give the University possession of the property, and undoubtedly the University would maintain title to the same in the courts, (this is a perplexing question). You state in your letter that you would not care to have Mr. Carnegies name mixed up in the affair in such a way that it would reflect upon him. If any suit should be instituted by the University of Wyoming it would undoubtedly be taken up by the papers and no doubt there would be severe criticism, whether it would go so far as to involve Mr. Carnegies name or not I cannot forsee. I do know however that the great papers of this country do not hesitate