Transcription:
2/ fences. Yes , he said, they have been taking them down. I had not then seen the Examiner, and didn t know what its article
contained. I think that the Valley people must have got wind of what Mr. Noble s report would be like, and have been trying
to head him off by removing some fence. I would have tried to learn from Washburn the amount of fences removed, but he is
such an infernal liar that one cannot safely accept a word he says. It may be of some importance to know the exact truth about
this. I would run up to Yosemite myself if I could do it. There has, however, been a snowstorm in the mountains, and the weather
is still threatening, and one would have to go by way of Hite s Cove. Why could not A. H. Ward write to his brother to find
out. If the weather should be good the brother could easily ride into the Valley, or, otherwise, could perhaps learn from
the mail carrier just what is the fact. I do not believe that much fence has been removed. As a matter of fact, the fences
are of use to the horse people by keeping the public out of the meadows and land