Hermosilla Nov 2nd 1873
My Dear Sister & Nieces
I received all three of your
letters this morning but as I will not have
time to answer all of you in detail. I have
thought it best to answer all together The first
thing is to scold Miss Nellie both for her writing
& spelling, which is very bad, especially in
comparison with Katies. it shows a great deal
of carelessness, if not laziness.
I am glad to hear
that you are all getting along so well, but was
sorry to hear that John Batten is unwell. Gus
if he attends to his business in Phila”da he will
come out and do well and I think will
make more than farming in N.J. I am only
afraid that his wife is little expensive. I shall
write to Henry by this mail to send me the
principal and the question of interest we will
settle at some future time. I suppose he will not
say no to this, after 12 years use of the money
We have been having a small revolu
tion here, but it is all over now and we are
at peace again, which I am in hopes will last
for some time. I have had the Gov & staff
with me in the house for 23 days past.
Tomorrow or next day I am going
out to my ranch to stay three or four weeks
to sell & kill cattle, sell a few mules & cows.
Times are very dull here. no
money at all, not have there been for 2 years.
consequently every body is short of money
but we are waiting very patiently for
Southern Pacific which is to be completed in
3 years. this will give us very large advan-
tages of free territory (Zone^ Libre) for the free
entry of goods , and then I think my property
will be worth something. for this reasonI
am very short of money and do not want to
sell until there is a change, if possible. I
want Henry & John to send me all they have
of mine so as to get here before Feby 1st to
meet a note which falls due at that time
I have 30,000 acres of pasture land which
cost me 10 P per acre, which I think must
be worth considerable more in 3 or 4 years
time.
Good bye. love to all. I must stop
as I have several letters to write and
but very little time to do it in- dont
forget to let me know how Mr Archer
is. how I would like to see him. give my
best regards to Hettie Davies. tell her in
‘76 I expect to eat some butter from the
fine cows of her make. where is Tom &
Frank Aston. what are they doing -
Major wishes to be remembered
kindly to all of you. it would be no more
than his due, for some of you to write to him.
Yours Very Respy
A.F.Garrison