cams_SStevens_b12_F001_001_002

Sonora June the 5th 1883

Dear cousen [cousin]

I recieved your letter on the 4th
of June you wanted me to write to you
the same day but i hardly know
what to write but i will begin and
tell you what i have bin [been] doing sins [since] i
last wrote to you. I left the river the
day after i wrote to you and went to a
place cald [called] poverty hill when i first got
thare [there] i bought a mining clame [claim] for 80 dolars [dollars]
it was thought to be rich but would
not pay when the rainy season sot [set] in.
provisions was verry [very] high at one time
flour was 112 dolars per barrel poark [pork] 150
dollars a barrel and other things in
propotion it was a damd [damn] hard scald.

I went astern 250 dollars while i
worked in them diggins. I went to
work the first of febarry [February] for the hydrolick [hydraulic]
watter [water] company for $100 dollars a month
and board. that is rather better then
driving a bull team at 20 dolars [dollars] a
month and board your self. I stil [still] work
for the hydroick [hydraulic] company how long the
jobe [job] will last I doant [don't] know.

Sam Stevens went down to sanfrancisco San Francisco
day before yesterday I doant [dont] know but
Sam will go to canton and from
thare [there] heme [home] if thare [there] is a good chanse [chance]
you need not look for mee [me] till i
come for as long as i can get a 100
dollars a month i shant come home and
for 26