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Martinez June 10/06 Dear Mr Johnson I'm very glad to hear from you again. Mr Gilder told me you were managing the Vesuvius
lava floods thunders in the midst of all this hard exciting nerve trying work was seeking tidings of me mine We are all pretty
well Helen who has been in Arizona nearly a year hopes to get back home in the fall about as sound well as ever, all the pain
gone from the sick lung at last. Wanda is with her but is coming home soon to be married. Then I ll go back to Adamana for
the summer to care for Helen study Sigellaria Lepidodendron etc in the auld lang syne enchanted forests-- The earthquake
did us but little harm shook down chimneys etc, some brick buildings in Martinez But San Francisco Heavens what desolation
For strength beauty only cinder ashes I was in Arizona at the time. Only Wanda was at home. Ten of thousands are still coming
from evereywhere to the terrible show. I haven't written anything but have been hard at work on the wonderful forests.--A
bill is now before Congress making the first discovered forests 144 square miles in area a National Park. Hope it will pass.
The resolution accepting Yosemite passed the house under suspension of the rules more than a week ago we hope no great opposition
will be encountered in the Senate. Ive been watching closely doing all I could in every way, Cannon at last becoming quite
friendly Kittrige in the Senate to our surprise has been giving us a good deal of trouble but we hope to hear any day that
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