San Francisco Feb 6th 1867
A Dibblee Esq
San Francisco
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Dear Sir,
Your favors of Jan 26 Feb 8 &4 all came in hand today. In the main I agree with Thomas, you ____ is another mind which might be taken of the matter of a partner which is not without some bearing.
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I see [..]from your brothers letters that he looks upon the business as being pretty hard, partly from the duties divided, and partly from the out of the way place, its isolation etc. In a few years how much greater the burden of business will be. Now suppose we take in Mr Sneath as a partner, buy more land making the business more unwieldy-- granted—will it not become just such if we go on alone and carry out our plans—
Thomas will have too much to do alone anyhow. Suppose we do just what we will have to do after the spring. partner or no partner, hire one or two good men as foreman for Thomas. Let them be on duty always, let Thomas go on with the general management and take life more easily. Ten or fifteen thousand sheep are enough for one man to look after. If Mr Sneath were to buy H&C’s interest in Lompoc. He would have to pay cash, say, forty thousand dollars to get one third interest, that would go a good way towards buying the San Julian.
We can go on with energy and our idea alone, but it tskes longer and we may no accomplish the extent of land we desire now for pateure operations.
Suppose we were to buy Gaspar Orena for San Julian now. If we can get it and then take in Sneath and go to work in earnest making our improvements as as would make the place a source of comfort and pride. if we can acquire
San Julian on that ranch and not on Lompoc should be built our shearing barn and general headquarters.
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On San Julian we could build nearer to the road and nearer to the landing. Then at the landing our depot for wool and supplies and a store, if you please, for sale of anything we find profitable.
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We could go ahead at once if we had more money and in two year from this spring we at our ease with Thomas as snug as you please. You and Mr Sneath buy the remaining lands of the Refugio and make two of the finest homes in the world, with the finest climate in the state.
I think I'd like to see you both both quit the city. It is not a good life for a good man. If you don't like to go south, come to San Justo and make homes here, We'll soon have a rail road and then you can go to the city as often as you like.
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I am with you and Thomas to the end of creation and will do nothing to
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make disagreeable complications without you fullest assent. You think how you own may about it. As you said in one of your letters to me i did make the proposition to Mr Sneath in a bantering joking way as sort of a way of quiet bragging jovial enough to be sure and I have to let off a little of my surplus of animal life in some way or turn---but now that the thing is done and Mr Sneath would like to join us and really make like it--it cold only be done agreeably as partners
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If we cannot agree together I will look around and see what can be done in other directions but I do not like to divide myself up so much.
If you it proper you may say this to Mr Sneath, then I will try , and look up a ranch somewhere and join them...................with him some time, but better perhaps drop me a line first and tell me after reading this what opinion you have after further thinking on the subject.
