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Martinez, California, July 12, 1890. My dear husband: Still no word nor message from Glacier Bay: and Alaska seems yet
more mist-shrouded and far away than ever. Our papers have not yet given any report of the steamer Queen's arrival at Victoria,
though the Pueble reached San Francisco on Thursday but no mention has been made of news from the North, so I hope the delay
has been for good reasons, not because of storms. Yesterday, a hot norther blew here, 92 degree, but most of the time our
winds have been too cold. Many of the grape vines had to be topped again last week: they were breaking in pieces and flying
off with the wind The Alexander apples brought a dollar per 40 lbs. a fine lot of them too. Pears are growing well. Eastern
prices for fruit shipments very good. Only 4 Chinamen at work, Joung and the others did not return. Edward and Coleman seem
to be working faithfully, they have tried hard to overcome the older squirrels, but those small beasts are powerful. Mr.
Swett comes each Sunday to see us. He looks lonesome. Emily and Frank report a delightful visit down south, visiting beautiful
places with Mrs. Carr. No more railroad news here at this date. Mr. Scott, the man who talks of buying the 12 acres of the
Rodgers tract fronting yours, thinks the bluff would be a nice building place, provided you would sell him the narrow strip
of land from creek to road between the two Bridges. Mr. Smith thought Mr. Scott did not care for the barn, but was anxious
to get the lasnd. The road between Hoey's and Dr. Bragdon's has been sprinkled for several days, but is far from being smooth
yet. Blum's warehouses were all burned Wednesday night, but fortunately there was no wind. If there had been a norther such
as blew last night there might be little left of Martinez. As it was, the blazing cinders and wisps of hay were scattered
over the townas far as the Courthouse and Blum's residence. The Bees Wanda wrote you about still hold the fort here. It seems
cruel to destroy them, and we have been trying to drive them away by smoking, but they are buzzing and darting angrily about
the yard and hedge so the children dare not walk there. At first when there were plenty of flowers, we all used to enjoy watching
the bees gathering honey and Wanda especially was delighted in studying their ways, but after the spring flowers faded the
bees seemed to be cross all the time. Poor Wanda suffered most, but even Kam was severely strung on the eyelid. Grandpa is
ready to go to Martinez, so I will send this now and write again with Wanda's letter tomorrow. Louie Muir