Dear Brother and Sister:

            Having some spare time today, I thought I would write a few lines to you and give
you some of the particulars of the country etc.  I have written to some of my people at
home but have not yet heard from them, although it is time.  I am going to make it a
point after this to write only once to a person before I get an answer.

            I have been here 2 months but have seen but little of the country as yet.  If the rest
of the country does not look better than this part, I would not say much in its favor.  If a
person has money or once gets acquainted he can do better than in the Atlantic States. 
I would not advice any of my friends to come here with their families.  Those that are
making a living there can enjoy themselves better than they can here, for the reason that
 there is good society there and that is everything in my estimation.  If you could only see
the state of things here you would not wonder at my remarks on this subject.  There is not
one man & wife out of 50 here but what are, or have been, at the “outs”.  Some men are
 living several miles from their wives and still support them, support them and have them
living with some worthless foe.  If it were me I would let them go to Grass & I would go
where I pleased. 

            I am not doing anything of any account yet am paying my way along and that is a
bout all, am living with Sam and helping him a little, he is keeping public house.  The girls
 are good girls to work but have been spoiled by being fatted.  They are like all other girls
 I have seen here.  If a person does not buy them everything that comes along, why they
are stingy.  They have given me that name so I tell them I will have the game.  They want
 everything nice that they see and if they get it they will slouch it right out, just as Jule
Mack used to do, & there Mother supports them in it.  All right though but they will see
when they get marries as others have done. 

            I received a letter from Liz, she & Clint have parted, Clint failing to support the
family.  It is hard telling who is to blame, as near as I can find out by Sam’s girls, Liz has
 been running to parties with other men, Clint not wishing to go.  She took a notion to
go and done as she used to at home.  If she could not go with the one she wanted to, she
would go at any rate.  I have written to her to find out the particulars, expect a letter
from her soon.  They parted the 20th of July last, she has three children to support.

            I hardly know where to direct this to, the last I heard from you you lived in Texas. 
I will direct there, if you are doing well there I would advise you to be contented to stay,
for all of California it costs a fortune to come here with a family.

            I wrote a letter to Lewis’s folks and told them about my trip etc. and you no doubt
 have heard from them & see the letter.  I will write to someone of you every two weeks &
expect to get an answer to them.  I will keep you all well posted as to the country, climate,
 etc.  The rains have commenced, but I am told that we will probably have some fair
 weather yet before the annual rains set it.  I am building a large stable now.  Will be
large enough to accommodate 72 horses & mules.  I tell you teaming is done on a big
 scale here from one mule or horse to 8 of the largest mules & horses I ever saw.  Some of
 the mules are 18 hands high.  They are worth from $150 to $600 hundred dollars, horses
 the same.

            Tell me all the news when you write & I will do the same.  Give my love to all your
family and all my friends there.

            Hoping this will find you all well.  I will close,

                                                                                                From your brother,

                                                                                                            George A. Salsig

                P.S. Excuse bad writing for I have a sick finger and can hardly hold my pen.

                Direct to Auburn, Placer County, Cal.

                                                                                           Geo.  

                To Jefferson Salsig

                                 Texas, Mich.