Letter from Louie [Strentzel Muir] to [John Muir], 1890 Jul 12.

• Main Author: Muir, Louie Strentzel
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Scholarly Commons 1890
• Subjects: Environmentalist; naturalist; travel; conservation; national parks; John Muir; history; correspondence; letters; Coleman; Glacier Bay; Swett; The Bluff; glacier; Alaska
• Online Access: https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/1930; https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/context/muir-correspondence/article/2929/viewcontent/muir06_0566_md_1.pdf

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 ...