Mr. A. E. D'Armond,

Portsmouth, Md. Dear Sir:

Allow us to compliment you on the firm stand you have taken on the ship-subsidy bill, surprising though it is to us
25 after your former disquisitions on the trust question. As we survey the situation, the passage of this bill would but the more surely surfeit certain
50 already over-rich shipbuilders, result in the disparagement of America's boasted freedom, reflect on its independence, and inflict a condition of wholesale taxation that would
75 eventually be destructive to its national existence. We say without hesitation, and after reflection, that no other measure now before the people, whether international or
100 merely domestic in scope, contains so many unwise provisions.

We petition you to keep up the praiseworthy and courageous fight which you have so effectively
125 begun; and let us adjure you that so blameworthy a measure - introduced solely upon the requisition of the leisure classes, fearful of free and fair
150 competition - would surely put this nation on the roadway to rapid ruin.

We will persistently resist its passage ourselves, and propose to maintain our opposition
175 until the advocates of this pernicious bill desist from their attempts to inflict upon us a measure as unnecessary as it is injurious. We presume
200 that you are in this fight to stay and that no subsequent events can now change your course. You may rest assured that you will
225 have our cordial and unswerving support.

With best wishes, we remain

                Very truly yours, (240)

25 Paragraphs 183, 184, 185

Messrs. Nelson & Company, St. Louis, Mo. Gentlemen:

Some weeks ago we took up with you a matter which we wished, as far as possible, to have settled at the earliest possible
25 moment, and asked you to reply at your earliest convenience - or at least with the least possible delay. Knowing the importance of having your decision
50 at as early a date as possible, it seems to us that you should have answered by return mail. As a matter of fact, though
75 we have written you over and over again, we are sorry to say that at the present moment nothing has been received from you. Have
100 you not been able to do anything? You may be sure such slow methods are working to your great disadvantage.

Our Mr. Hawkins has been doing
125 his best, planning and working as fast as possible, to the end of having this question settled; and I en-

close copy of a letter from
150 him received in today's mail which is self-explanatory.

We are very sorry to be put in the position of fault-finders, but we must
176 insist on your early reply, as your lack of activity is causing us considerable financial loss.

Yours very truly, (194)

26 Paragraphs 183, 184, 185, 186

Messrs. K. L. Adams & Son, St. Paul, Minn. Gentlemen:

We are in receipt of bank draft for $2,500.00 in settlement of our claim against the Canadian Pacific. I would
25 like to know what you have done about the claims of the Baltimore & Ohio, the New York Central, the Illinois Central, the Union Pacific,50 the Grand Trunk, and other roads.

We want to bring to your attention another matter about which little or nothing has been done, and which
75 has been thrust upon our attention many times during the last week. Several months ago we furnished you with a memorandum relating to this subject,100 and you promised to do as much as possible to close it at an early date. We refer to the question of the per pound
125 tariff on class "A" material. Heretofore it has been classified under the per barrel rates -in a number of cases going into the per dozen
150 classification, from which no possible advantage could be derived. We think that the per pound basis, adopted by some roads many years ago, is the
175 true one, and we should adopt it as nearly as possible in preference to either the per barrel or per dozen rate. Knowing the equity
200 of it, no doubt you are already contemplating the adoption of this basis.

Hoping you will give us your decision soon regarding the advisability of
225 putting this tariff into effect, for which we shall be obliged, we are

Yours truly, (240)

27 Paragraph 190

Mr. Adam Hoffman,

231 Wells St., Chicago. Dear Sir:

We beg to hand you herewith schedule for your route for the coming year, subject, of course, to change, should emergencies arise.25

During January, February and March you will visit Evanston, Riverside and Edgewater on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; Maywood, Waukegan and Libertyville, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.50 During these months there will be no Sunday delivery.

During the months of April, May and June you may reverse the above order of things, visiting
75 Evanston, Riverside and Edgewater on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, Maywood, Waukegan and Libertyville on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

During July, August and September you may
100 follow the first schedule above outlined, making deliveries on Sunday as well; and during October, November and December follow the second schedule mentioned above.

Please
125 instruct your men accordingly, and endeavor to infuse as much of promptness in their work as possible, and thereby greatly oblige the management.

Yours truly, (150)

28 Paragraph 191

Mr. N. M. O. Davisson,

Minneapolis, Minn. Dear Friend:

I know you will be interested in the recent record-breaking business trip I made covering a large portion of the United States. I
25 left New York on Sunday, February 1st, and arrived in Chicago on Monday, February 22d. On my way I passed through and obtained business in
50 Trenton, Jersey City, Albany, Buffalo and Detroit. While making my headquarters in New York City during the month of January, I visited Brooklyn, Boston, Rochester,75 Providence, Baltimore, Albany, Syracuse, Worchester, New Haven, Lowell, Fall River, Hartford, Paterson, Newark, Jersey City, Trenton, Camden, Wilmington and other eastern cities of less importance.100 While making Chicago my headquarters during March and April, I visited Milwaukee, St. Paul, St. Joseph, Springfield, Grand Rapids, Omaha, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Columbus, Cincinnati,125 Cleveland, and Toledo. In May I took a western trip, going to the Pacific coast, visiting Salt Lake City, Lincoln, Neb., Minneapolis, Minn., Des Moines, la.,150 Seattle, Spokane and Portland. I took a steamer from Portland direct to San Francisco, thence to Los Angeles, by rail; on my return trip from
175 the coast I stopped at Denver, Kansas City and St. Louis.

I made St. Louis my headquarters for a few weeks and took a southern
200 trip, visiting New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville, Louisville, Birmingham, Richmond, Brunswick, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Savannah, Raleigh and Montgomery.

Leaving the South I spent a few days in
225 Washington, from which point I visited some of the eastern cities, including Allegheny, Pittsburg,

Philadelphia, Scranton, Harrisburg and Erie. This completed my tour of five months;250 and I am now back in New York City planning another invasion. My total sales on this trip were over $250,000.275 I expect to see you in the city during the next month, as you say you will be here; and we can
300 then exchange confidences.

Your friend, (305)

                        Paragraph 193

Messrs. O'Donnell & MacDuffie,

New York City. Gentlemen:

In January, 1906, we sent you a list of lands located in the northern, eastern and western, as well as the
25 southern part of your State, on which we have mortgages, asking you to buy them in at a tax sale unless the taxes were paid
50 before the sale day. In the list was the Gorman land, namely the N. E. quarter of the S. E. quarter, the S. W. quarter
75 of the S. E. quarter, and the S. E. quarter of the N. W. quarter of Section 25, Township 90, Range 28. In the N.100 E. corner of Section 26, there is a block of land belonging to W. J. Sloan, who moved East a few years ago, subsequently going
125 South. On the southeast border of the State there is a quarter section formerly belonging to S. E. Maker: north and a little west of
150 Hammond, the N. W. quarter of Section 21, Township 18, Range 22, and a little southwest of Hammond there are other quarter sections
175 on which we hold mortgages.

We are now informed that some of these lands have been sold for taxes. Will you please look them up
200 according to the enclosed map, and if

possible, get an assignment of certificate to this company.

Thanking you in advance for your promptness in this
225 matter, we are

Very truly yours, (231)

30 Paragraphs 194 to 203, Inclusive.

Mr. E. M. Miller,

Cleveland, Ohio. Dear Sir:

We are in receipt of a letter from one of your claimants who, it appears, is nameless but not numberless. His claim number
25 is 4250.

We think the record in this case is not at all creditable and that there has been a
50 laxness and carelessness that is very vexing and that places us in an unfavorable light in many respects. In some instances we know of
75 families -peculiarly characterized by the hardness of their lot - whose cares have been daily increased by his lack of candor and thoroughness. One family in
100 Lehigh particularly has been thrown into the direst poverty and is suffering the gravest hardships through their lack of friendship and goodwill. This is
125 the clearest case we have against him.

Of course, it may be that his work, from various causes, is a great tax on his
150 strength, consisting as it does of numerous duties, but we wish to re-assert that if this mixes you and causes you vexation he should be
175 considerate enough to declare his intention of becoming a candidate for another position, and immediately emigrate from the Union.

Yours truly, (196)