Transcription
Cerro Gordo, Inyo County
12th April 1870
Dear Fanny,
Your kind favor was duly received by me two days ago. I was very glad to hear from you, as I had been expecting a letter for a long time in reply to the last one I wrote to you. And you really think that you have wrote oftener than I have, when in fact you owe me one since my arrival here. I can’t account for the cause of your not receiving all my letters. It must be between this place and Independence. There is no regularity about its arrival, as yet we have no post office here.
I was sorry to hear that Mrs. Smith has been sick so long, and hope that she is now quite well. I have had considerable experience in the sick line myself of late. More than two months ago I was unfortunate enough to get leaded, that is, inhaling the dust from the sulphurates of lead. It is very poisonous and difficult to get rid of, and I was very sick from its effects and not quite well yet. Will go down to the lake this afternoon where there is a hot sulphur spring that is said to be very good, and expect to be quite well before this reaches you.
I have really not much to write about from this place, only that it is improving considerable lately. Several new mines have been opened that is really rich, and if it was in any other locality there would be considerable excitement about it, but here we do not expect it. The great trouble is lack of water. Just think of one living in town and paying 8 cents per gallon for it, and sometimes can hardly get it then. We will have more soon. Parties are now at work laying pipes to bring in water from springs four miles north of this place. They expect to have it completed in three weeks. It will be a great advantage to this place. I would not stay much longer at this camp as the climate is not good, only that I am interested in several locations and must stay [illegible, near?] by to make something out of them if possible.
I would like very much to visit Butte Co. once more soon, but is not possible yet, and the trouble is I don’t know how soon it will be. I would like to hear if they are doing anything at the mill on Jordon Hill, and who is there or if it has been removed, if Ries still remains at Spanish Town, and the names of the parties now…