William R. Olden

the great trouble here is where to spend ones evening there is no rescourse [resource] except the gambling saloons every one resorts there and if you wish to see a friend you are bound to see him in the evening but it is excedingly [exceedingly] tiresome and and you cannot Imagine how I long for home at such times but it is no use talking I dont [don't] alow [allow] myself to think about it. Ive' [I've] got money to make first and I shall do it.

I have not seen Edward Shippen for some time he was an inspector in the custom house where last I saw him at (120$ per month). I was very sorry to see that Aunt Rachel is still troubled with those same bad colds that she used to have scarcely a winter passes with out an attack of the Kind thanks to a good constitution she generally weathers the storm those easterly storms in your country are terribly rocking to the constitution.

Sue Ruan I see is well how I would like to see – Murray at his old game of teasing her, what a wonderfull [wonderful] time, she and Aunt Rachel must have with the children, Ill [I'll] lay you a wages – now that the older children care more for Aunt than they do for you if they dont [don't] things are not as they used to be she used to always Keep a supply of cakes or something of the Kind for my benefit (if I had not have been a good boy how she would have spoiled me )

Kiss the children for me and remember – your – Brother to all enquiring [inquiring] friends

Yours

William R. Olden

Marysville March 29

My Dear Sister –

I have note yet receivd [received] my letters by this mail & consequently can form no Idea of how this will find you. I hope however by this time your health will be entirely recovered & you will have a find blooming boy or girl dancing on your knee. You can hardly imagine what a pleasure. it would be to me to see all you all, God Knows how long it may be first. I never loose my Spirits but Keep Str-uggling [struggling] on for I am confident that untiri-ng [untiring] energy will Succeed at last. I have written severall [several] letters to Mr. Hutchiar to induce him to get up a company & Build Boats for this country. If he addopts [adopts] my plan it will make the fortunes of all concerned, what an annoyance it is to need a little captial. I have missed so many chances to make a fortune from want of a little that It is enough to discour-age [discourage] one. But I have long since made

up my mind that I will not be kept down if Mr. H will not carry out my propposition [proposition] I will endeavour [endeavor] to raise a company here & come home & do it myself, there are a number of persons here who would like to take stock in such a company but would prefer not to loose the use of their money for so long a time. I have gaurenteed [guaranteed] Mr. H that if he will Ship the Boats out here I will take care of all further expenses. There will be no difficultly in delivery. Stock enough to pay for & the expence [expense] of putting them up. But rather than see the plan defeated. I think that the parties here will form a company & Send me home to build them. In my last to Mr H. I Sent him an estimate based upon a most medirate [moderate] calculation which showed a proffit [profit] of more than one three hundred per cent per annum which was based upon prices twice one half as high long high as those ruling at present although the probability is that they will not fall as they are now twenty five percent higher than they were last year & will remain so this season.

Buisness [Business] increases here much faster than the Boats & those we have here are not well calculated for Buisness [Business] & would stand

no chance in competition with good western Boats. I expect a reply on this subject by this or the next mail. It is a most singular circumstance that although my letters are dated and Post marked Marysville my replys [replies] Should be sent to San F [San Francisco] it is bad enough not to get letters but when you Know that the delay is caused by the carelesness [carelessness] of those who write it is very annoying.

I have got decidedly in the writing humor – lately & I am determined that none of you Shall complain of my being dilatory in writing our mail will be weekly in future So that you may make a calculation of an scratch from me at least twice a month.

It has been raining Since Saturday evening hard all the time this Tuesday evening will make three days during which there has not been a moments cessation. There is no prospect of the rain Stopping Short of two or three days the water is now 1 foot higher than ever before & rising fast 2 ft [feet] more will cover every spot of land in town where it is going to stop no one can tell. I do not think however that

it can rise much more for now the whole cuntry [country] is covered with the exception of a few spotts [spots] & you cam imagine what an imense [immense] body of water it must take to raise the hundreds of square miles, one inch, that are now covered with water one inch there have been more floods Rain & High water than have been known in this country for years. The food [flood] here will not cause in the town much distruction [destruction] of property nor much any loss of life because being expected every one prepared for it but it will help raise the farmers by the loss of their crops & stock. Sacramento City will be ruined almost ruined She will be severall [several] feet under water. They have commenced building a rival town 2 miles below on high ground that will receive an immense accession of Strength from this circumstance. I am at present quartered upon the Camanche. She is landing lying at the landing full of Frt [freight] but cannot discharge an account of the weather my paper has run out and I must close. Love to Aunt Susan Murray the children & yourself.

William R. Olden