Jane P Davidson

Academic paper

Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science (2003)

106

3-4

177-191

William E. Webb's 1872 book Buffalo Land, written for the Kansas Pacific Railroad, was a typical railroad advertising publication with one exception. Webb's fictional story of a group of Kansas adventurers included a paleontologist probably based on the person of Webb's friend, Edward Drinker Cope. The book also includes most of a scientific paper written by Cope and given to Webb for use in Buffalo Land. Cope may be seen as a co-author of Webb's book. Cope's contributions to Buffalo Land and his association with Webb are discussed in detail. "What a wild land we are in! A few puffs of a locomotive had transferred us from civilization to solitude itself." "There's a wonderful land far out in the West, Well worthy a visit my friend; There, Puritans thought, as the sun went to rest, Creation itself had an end... That era is passing--another one comes, The era of steam and the plow, With clangor of commerce and factory hums, Where only the wigwam is now...." "The Professor was developing a remarkable talent for finding not only the stones of the past written all over...but also the moral connected with each incident of our journey...." William E. Webb, Buffalo Land

English