Creator
John Reid
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
Spring Valley Ranch [Colby?] Kansas Jany 25t-1888
Bror. John
Dear Sir
I am here on the ranch attending to the stock. Reg a letter from Maggie stating that Bro. Dan could not raise the money. I wrote to him twice he paid no regard to my letters till Maggie went for him asking him to say something about the money whether he had it or not. Bro. Walter got the time extended for how long I do not know. If the land was all my own I would not care so much but Sarah owning half [illegible] some what [serious?] about it. My business is very un- settled at present. & do not know hardly how I am coming out. I am all alone. the firm of Reid & Foster
[2]
is disolved. I have been trying to get out [stricken word] seveal years ago. & have taken the colts in Kansas. & now I do not know whether I am above the dam or going over the dam or under the dam. If I haad my own I would be all right but when we settle up we found about $4,000.- indebtnedss against the firm & it seems that I have to pay it or go under by right I ought not to pay any as I had about $3500.00 in the firm. the others had no money I have go to loose that besides paying the other. what it is more than can I can do. all I have now is the half of that land in Kansas & my home which is about $8000- It is so fixed that I cant get any money to pay on the land. & how it will be in a few years from now [stricken phrase] as then is [illegible] against the colts all that they are worth when we got the colts I suppose they were a [clap?} of horses that would reach about 1200# but
3d
instead of that there are lots of them that will not reach 800# so I have been dis[illegible] in them. The fact of the matter I have been decieved all the way along. therefore I am going alone after this I will be obliged to sell those colts I have on hand & start again Harry has got to be a man grown now & is about to do a mans work. I would like to get about 50 or 60 good mares to raise colts for I am certain there is lots of money in the business. The land that I have got here in Kansas is well fixed for raising horses I have 8 miles of a fence good sheds & well watered [stricken word] springs enough to water a 1000 hand the best little ranch in the state of Kansas. if I can hold this I think the time is not far distance when the lands here will sell for 15 or 20 per acre, this is about $3500-
against to be paid in the next 4 years & Sarah has no money I none I may be obliged to sell it. the land is worth $16000= now. & some [illegible] holding for 10 per acre. if you have got one thousand at [illegible] to get it for a five years do not know when I will be able to pay. I presume when the land is sold. I will pay you 10 per cent that is 2 per cent more than people is loaning money at present.
Have you got what is called the Cat. Evergreen Willet if so please write & let me know about it & what it cane be got per buck.
Please let me here from you Maggie & family were all well when last heard.
Your Bro. John Reid Collyer Trugo Co Kansas
Location
…Collyer, Kansas
Date Original
1888 Jan 25
Source
Original letter dimensions: 23 x 14 cm.
Recommended Citation
Reid, John, "Letter from John Reid to John Muir, 1888 Jan 25." (1888). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 1741.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/1741
Resource Identifier
muir05_0936-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 05, Image 0936
Copyright Status
Copyright status unknown
Copyright Statement
Some letters written to John Muir may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Owning Institution
Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.
Pages
4 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
