[2nd sheet] [1st sheet of letter is lost]
[This] is our only policy and salvation: → to make the sheep begin at once to pay money income.
I send you herewith Williams business circular. Mother writes by last steamer that he is doing very little and I fear he may not find much encouragement. Probably there will be much less business in stocks, and much less money to make in such a business for a few years to come then there was during the war. His rent (office) is $2400 per year-- rather a severe tax to start upon.
Nelly writes that they hear nothing from you anymore, and says mother wishes me to let them know about you. That is very wrong. I think you ought to write short letters frequently Long ones are not expected or needed. They are always talking and thinking of you at home and you do not think enough of them to write at all any more.
Col. Hollister recently wrote a long letter to Mr. Sneath. Among other things he urged him, in a somewhat jocular manner to drop his mercantile business (which this year has been with him, as with nearly all merchants here, very unsatisfactory indeed) and join with him and us in the sheep business. He to put in land and we the sheep. To my surprise, Mr. Sneath, has been studying upon this very seriously. And I feel quite certain he would need very little urging to enter into the thing. I have carefully avoided giving him the least encouragement for I am somewhat doubtful to the advantage of having any more partners in the business. Of course, Mr. Sneath
could put in his full share of capital in cash, we furnishing the sheep, for which he must either pay us in cash or in land. What would you think of such a plan, in view of [carrying out] our old idea of getting all the land lying about Pt. Conception—say beside our present lands--San Julian, Salsipuedes, Espada, and Cojo. About 17 or 18 leagues yet to buy I suppose—at a cost of say $60.000 to $80.000. It would give us a body of perhaps in all 110,000 or 120.000 acres which could be enclosed in a nearly straight fence from sea to sea.
Unless our sheep begin to yield us an income to warrant further purchase of lands, I should feel very timid about buying when the critical moment came for deciding about that San Julian purchase—and probably, as business now stands, should have to decline. In such case it might perhaps be policy to have Mr. Sneath in, so that he could be called upon for the funds.
Of course it would be very different if our sheep were giving an income that would warrant buying and mortgaging for [part of] the purchase price. In such case, we would know there was vitality enough in the business to bear the interest acct, and to contribute besides toward paying off the mortgage. As it is, you see it would hardly do.
It would certainly be necessary, if we take Mr. Sneath in, to have an understanding at the beginning about the charge or allowance for management. There should be an allowance to
you for your services from all the interests, of from $1000 to $2000 per an. (please tell me your idea as to this) and I should at the first say so to Sneath. It seems to me very queer that Col. H never alludes to this. I have sent him the R⁰ a/c. (joint sheep) to Jan 1., and hope when he writes, he will speak of the allowance due to you. He surely cannot be dull enough not to see the injustice of leaving things as they are.
Please write me your views about the forgoing. I will write Col. H, and tell him about Sneath—but suggest that we wait to year your views before opening negotiations with him.
Cojo. On reading the enclosed letter press copy of my letters of this date Sunday 13th to Col j, you will note what Mr. Wand proposes. We ought to have the Cojo some time or other.
Nelly is very busy and very happy—getting ready to be married in the spring. She has been a little sick with cold, and had symptoms of rheumatism, but has recovered and is now quite will. Dear Little Nelly, I do hope she will be happy—and in fact I feel quite sure she will be. Mr. Young is perfectly devoted to her, and so he should be, for he will have the nicest little wife in the world.
By the enclosed you will see that I have changed the style of my firm, and now use only my individual name.
As soon as you have put through the repairs to your own quarters, I trust you will let Mr. James
go home. I’m aware we could find full employment for such a man for the next ten years in Lompoc, but we cannot afford it. But you know my ideas now, and it is no use to write further.
Feed : I have today talked with a sheep-men from Stanislaus Co. He says feed is very abundant, that his sheep are entirely full every day by two o’clock—the he begins to fear they will be too fat to lamb well, and consequently that he intends not sending them from the corrals before about 11 o’clock each day.
I suggest this as worthy of notice. They say that Ewes lose their lambs when they are too fat. With good feed, it seems to me you must be able to use your herders part of the day for other work. Such as putting in your crop of vegetables, grain Etc. and for other needful work, and so effect much savings—but probably you’ve so arranged matters now. I should think larger flocks too could be handled by one man with such good feed.
By the way—I have said nothing of your old suggestion of having each of us 1/3 interest in the joint sheep business. That would perhaps be the fairest way to arrange the business and to provide the equivalent for your services. Whenever we have a money income this point could soon be arranged.
Very truly,
Albert Dibblee,
I finish this long letter on evening of Sunday Jan 13th, and send it to Santa Inez.
By the way, I just hear from Lee Crobit& Co. that they have sold the Merinos wool from Santa Anita at 27½ cents, they are jack-asses—disobeying orders-- bad judgement etc. Refused 30¢ once they write the Lompoc wool is yet unsold in Boston.
