De[paper hole] 26/1881

 

Mrs M A Adams

           

San Antonio

                        Dear Aunt. Received Mattie's letter in which she says you wish to buy a lot here to build on, have made enquiry resulting in nothing definite but believe can buy a lot adjoining us from E M Herreford for $50⁰⁰ rather small but am willing to put all together & devide ours in two equal parts. Mr. B C Greenwood says he can not sell any lots but is willing to permit any one to build on a lot if the party agree to put up a substancial house to cost about $1000⁰⁰ and bind himself to buy all [?]ment at their market value when children are of age and free of any rent or other costs for 10 year; Understand Mr Perry will sell but doubt if at any fair price. Perhaps you can lease or buy from Ney Jackson, at any rate it would be best for you to visit us yourself if you can spare the time, do not at present know of any suitable house for rent, the house Mattie had reference to is rented to Col H Glaze and believe Mrs Gruier intends to occupy the one vacated herself, will ask her and let you know. Mattie knows the [faded] you can / instruct me as to what you are willing to pay. Had a talk with my partner in regard to buying his interest, he does not care to sell if he can help it and is willing to turn over his private stock of cattle and horses into the partnership amounting to about 2000⁰⁰ and make contract that I am to have entire control of the store and he to give his personal atention to cattle, he knows his faults as a merchant and is very anxious to move to some ranche. He has just closed a trade with one M^cCormick to buy cattle for him in Mexico, from 2500 to 3000 and to devide profits with him between price bought and fixed value here on which we can clear at least 1⁰⁰ per head and no money out as first party M^cCormick is to furnish $25000⁰⁰ for In case he does not succeed in buying sufficient for said party and strickes only buys 500 head can I depend on getting the money through your assistance for one year say 3000⁰⁰ and give you security on our cattle 1000 and his private stock. If we continue in bussiness very much desire to procure some land for pasturage and trade in cattle as he does understand cattle & is considered a sharp trade. Mess Pressnal & U[faded] with whom he worked can / recommend as such. We had an offer of 6000 acres at the mouth of Sycamore @ $100 1/3 cash 1/3 in 12 mos 1/3 in 18 mos. this land belongs to estate of John James and needs very little fencing to enclose the whole land. if the title is good it is a good investment since the RR will positively pass either over upper or lower end. Our object is to put everything into community property except a homestead for each, my idea in this was that if he is to attend to cattle he should use all his endeavors to make money for the firm and hold no private cattle, the same as store would be. Our bussiness stands at present about as follows: Resources that can be counted on Afcs 5000⁰⁰ liabilities 10000 stock on hand Mdse 13000⁰⁰ cattle & other 2000⁰⁰ so we are worth about 8 to 10 thousand clear and surly control the bulk of the trade. Will continue to mark down our goods and sell more strictly for cash & No 1 Customers, my policy grows more every day that small profits for cash & short time is the best. I have given you an outline of our standing etc in order to show whether it be adviseable to invest some in cattle & not have all our profits in Mdse which is able to burn / down [paper hole] Greenwood informs me the heirs[paper hole] of Smith (Erastus) own a tract of land at mouth of San felipe which was located by Judge Stribling for one half and Mrs. Fisk, yourself & others are Smith's legal heirs, I do not know anything about the matter & simple give my information for what it is worth. In former years there is no doubt that old settlers were badly cheated by law sharks & attorneys who took advantage of the ignorant. It is my intention when better able to spend 500 to 1000⁰⁰ in having old records looked into for althoug lawyers, surveyors & others swiddle appropriate every thing to their own use the Bexar district records surely must show who the just owners are and how the property was disposed of. We have sold out our Butcher bussiness but believe you can arrange to sell your goats to the man in charge, or otherwise kill them & open a stand to sell the meat. Don Julian is a good hand at this bussiness and perhaps will butcher them for you at dark. Sorry did not see you at SA & hope all are well, will be very happy indeed to have you for a neighbor

                                                                                                                       

Your nephew

E J Braden Jr

SOURCES