Handwritten letter from Frank Ballou in Georgetown, Colorado, to John Pitcairn, Jr. Handwriting difficult to decipher in places.

Contents: -Pitcairn’s letter of Dec. 11th received -Pitcairn getting out of business with V. P. & Co. is good thing; will free mind to enjoy travel -Ballou hopes to depart for trip East on the 5th proximo (Jan. 5th) -Pelican Mining Co. is attempting to sell Pelican Mill for $40,000; if sold, Ballou will have to give up Mill at 60 days notice -Ballou hopes to convince Bank to buy Mill and rent it out at cheaper rate than their current rate with Pelican Co. -Mill has wearing/breaking parts which have cost them valuable time (Mill runs day & night); doesn’t make sense to invest in new parts with uncertain tenure -individual descriptions of Olmstead and Napheys; both excellent business partners -part 2: dated Dec. 26th; merger between Pelican Co. & Dives Mining Co. -Pelican Co. hopes to sell Pelican Mill to new consolidated Co.; Ballou thinks this will be blocked by one Snider (1/6th owner of Pelican Mine) whose father was killed by a Dives Co. man in armed fighting several years ago -correction of Pitcairn’s reference to $1200 as Ballou’s insurance: $1200 was for Ballou’s cost of living expenses -acquired Speirs’ address from Gen. Stuart; will subscribe to his Journal -only business news to share as Ballou is now an “isolated receiver” of the New Church doctrines -Ballou and Mary (wife) wish Pitcairn & Bishop “perfect Niagara of partnership” in New Year

Names mentioned: V. P. & Co. (Vandergrift Petroleum (?) or Vandergrift, Foreman & Co. (?)), Olmsted, Napheys, Huntlsy (Huntley? Huntsly?), Jns. Gillespie (John Gillespy?), Hanks, Pelican Company, Dives Mining Company, Snider, (James?) Speirs, Gen. Stuart (J. P. Stuart), the Bp. (W. H. Benade), Mary (Ballou) Places mentioned: Pelican Mill, San Francisco, Pelican Mine, Niagara