Monthly Archives: January 2013

March 16, 1938

707 Thorpe Bldg
March 16, 1938.

My Dear Ina and Walter White,

I appreciate your letters very much and also I am glad you sent a letter from Mother Dove. My trip back here from SA was a most interesting one as it was a visit after another on grasshoppers in the different states. Kenneth was here and the office was open but not in good shape. The furniture is not placed yet but 6 to 7 of us work here trying to get the preliminary work under way. Mrs. Hastings arrived yesterday 3 PM and as there were no taxis here (they are on a strike) I met the train with the govt. car and carried Mrs. H. & Miss Anderson & the baggage to their new home. Mrs. H worked today. (I drew one check for the Internal Revenue Office for $26.04 & one to Mother D for $50 today)

March 16, 1938

March 16, 1938

I have the last salary check and will get another in a day or two and will send both of them for deposit at San Antonio.

Enclosed you will find statement from the Mass. Mutual Life Ins. Co. of a balance of $341.71 after crediting 78.29 of dividends. I think it would be a good idea to send this & the policy registered and ask that the endorsement be changed to read Paid.

With love
Walter

Excuse stationery please.

March 14, 1938

Postcard postmarked Minneapolis, MN.

Monday 3/14

Am sending card to Kehoe to send checks to you & you will send notes.

We are rushing to get men started & to prepare for purchases of last materials. It is now 11 PM.

Prepaid Income Tax blank & will mail it when it is notarized tomorrow morning.

With love
Walter.

March 14, 1938

March 14, 1938

March 7, 1938

Stationery from the Hotel Lindell, Lincoln, NE.

Monday Night.

My dear Sweetheart,

The conference at College Station was satisfactory and Mr. Fred Butcher, my assistant met me there. They asked for Spicer and A.A. Miller also Mr. Gable. Butcher and Dr. Shotwell, in charge of survey work for me, will hold a training conference there on the 17th, also 1 other man.

March 7, 1938

March 7, 1938

At Stillwater Mr. Rainwater wants a job again and the training conference will be held on March 19 by Butcher & Shotwell. Will get a Mr. Moore & another man, probably Mr. Maxwell who worked on screwworms.

At Manhattan will get a man who served last year also two others to be selected by Prof. Dean and Dr. Kelly.

Will get through here tomorrow, Tuesday, & proceed to Ames Iowa for another conference to be held on Wednesday. I should get into Minneapolis on Thursday. I feel that I am getting something accomplished and I will have plenty ahead of me on my return to Mpls. I’ve wired instructions for Quarterman and they will have plenty to do before my arrival there.

Butcher will make arrangements in New Mex., Arizona, Colorado, Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin. Also hold training conferences for men selected for the work. Shotwell will join him on most of these.

I had a lonesome trip up. Butcher left me at Stillwater & the rest has been by myself. Everything is shaping up OK and I think we will be ready when ghoppers start. The winter has been ideal for them and the greatest outbreak yet is expected if they cannot be controlled when they hatch.

Will write again from Mpls (707 Thorpe Building). With lots and lots of love,

Your
Walter.

March 6, 1938 (Ina)

Sunday Afternoon.
March 6, 1938.

Dearest Sweetheart:

I’m wondering where you are and what you are doing this afternoon. We hope you reached College Station on time and hope your entire trip has been a pleasant one. We enjoyed your visit so very much.

Walter White and Tommie are skating and Lewis Dunbar is beside me on the couch talking a blue streak.

We had a light norther last night which made it cool enough for me to wear my fur coat to church this A.M.

March 6, 1938 (Ina)

March 6, 1938 (Ina)

Yesterday I went to Pincus’ 1/2 price sale again. I just couldn’t resist buying several things for the children – for Walter White a good looking brown suit (coat, vest & 2 prs. long trousers), 1 dark brown pigskin jacket, 1 slip over sweater, 5 long sleeved shirts and 1 pr. outing pajamas (all they had left), everything in 14 yr. size so he can wear them next winter. I realize the unlined leather jacket will be too light for midwinter but it will be good for Fall and Spring. For Lewis Dunbar I bought 2 all wool two piece suits, 1 slip-over sweater and one coat sweater. These are in size 6 and should fit him by Fall. He wears size 5 now. All this is good merchandise and I couldn’t resist it at 1/2 price. The things are stored in your big trunk in the toy room in plenty of dichloricide. You see I had to fill in some of the space left vacant when you took all your clothes away.

The important papers left by you have been placed in our safety deposit box, checks sent to the New England Mutual and the fire insurance agency in Dallas and a request sent to the Massachusetts Mutual for the amount of balance on our loan after dividends have been deducted. The latter probably will be mailed to your office address in Minneapolis as I thought it advisable to notify them of the change of address from 1010 Travis Bldg. Should I mail $29.15 to Investors Syndicate soon? Don’t you think Mr. Kehoe would like it better if you were the one to ask him to make his payments directly to us here? I can mail him the receipted notes as soon as the checks are received. The first one will be due the 17th of this month.

Yesterday afternoon Walter White, Lewis Dunbar, Russell and I spent 2 or 3 hours at Brackenridge Park. Madie was off, you know. This afternoon we plan to take a picnic supper to some place in the country. Yes, we shall return before dark.

Walter White wrote the letter without any help from me. I didn’t even know what he was writing until it was finished.

Polly has lost 6 lbs. since the rush started. She will need a rest when she reaches Minneapolis but no doubt she will find just as much work there as she is having here. She was not complaining at all. She just casually mentioned the loss of weight in connection with the rush. Perhaps the invigorating climate will be refreshing.

Wednesday we are to have our 6 weeks exam in history. I can’t get used to exams. They make me so weak and nervous that I can hardly write, much less think.

Please remember me to Doris. I’m sure she will be glad when Polly arrives.

We hope all goes well with you.

Lots of love,
Ina.

February 22, 1938

My dear Sweetheart,

We are busy trying to locate new quarters, select some help and make preliminary arrangements. Mr. Gaddis, Mr. Andrews and Miss Anderson are here, and tomorrow we expect to have another stenographer. Gaddis and I are going to Fargo ND the latter part of the week and will try to get the SD people to meet us there for a conference. Next week we go to Bozeman and I have an idea that we will be there most of the week. We may be able to get away soon enough to meet RA & Townsend by the first of the following week. We cannot set the dates yet but will wire tomorrow so he can meet us. He wants all of the time he can get at SA, and we want to give him as much as possible.

February 22, 1938

February 22, 1938

It was about zero the night Andrews and I arrived, but it has been much warmer since then. Miss Anderson arrived Monday PM & Gaddis Sunday night. The streets are pretty sloppy. Today was a holiday but we have been having conferences and interviewing prospective employees. Tomorrow at 3 PM Dr. W.A. Riley will call. A number of students have been recommended from Minn., & he is no doubt interested in their chances of employment. We are hiring a good man for Minn. who worked in North Dakota on ghoppers since 1934. A good man. We are getting two stenos who served on previous ghop campaigns. They are now working with the U.S. Engineers and two others from Civil Service seem to be well qualified. Mr. Andrews is an auditor and is not going to be as helpful as Townsend. He will do the purchasing or rather the paper work connected with purchasing. We are buying 8 desks and it looks like we are going to have about 11 people in the office here. Butcher & I will be in the field some and I expect he will be out most of the time. I want Kenneth so I can get out some.

Claudelle decided to stay in Little Rock so Mr. Gaddis tells me. She will get her increase to grade 3 there which is probably good judgement on her part. It is much more expensive at Wash. & when she goes there she should have a much better salary. I imagine the art materials and furniture at San Antonio will be sent to her at Little Rock.

We had five new typewriters delivered today. We expect furniture soon also some 24 pick up trucks and 6 big trucks. About 7500 carloads of grasshopper bait will be shipped to areas where infestations are expected and the state leader (paid by the state) will act in charge in each state. It looks like we will have about 110 men in the field. All from the Mpls office. Roberts will have about half as many on Mormon crickets and will use a lot of labor. RA will be in charge. I know that he isn’t going to be wild about his assistant, I agreed to let him have Mr. Schmitt who will get $2600. This should help some.

I think this is going to be a very satisfactory arrangement under Gaddis. I need just such a contact with the chief’s office in Wash. He seems very fair in every way and a helpful chief.

With love and looking forward to seeing you in about two weeks, I am,

Your
Walter.

Address c/o Dr. J.R. Parker, BOE & PQ, Bozeman, Montana. Will send telegram from there or will wire Tourate.*

* A Tourate Telegram was a special discount-rate message people could send to report their location.

February 18, 1938 (Evening)

Stationery from the West Hotel, Minneapolis, MN.

Friday night 2/18.

My dear Ina,

Mr. Andrews (the fiscal man) and I arrived about 8 PM and I found your letter waiting. Was glad to know that you got back from Uvalde OK. There is so much danger in driving the highways, I worry about your driving when the traffic is heavy. I know that Mother Lewis wants you to drive during daylight hours and will let you leave Uvalde early. I think it is a good idea to do so.

February 18, 1938 (Evening)

February 18, 1938 (Evening)

My salary check for the 16th was sent here and I’ll buy some American Express money orders with it. I did not draw 50 at Wash. as stated in my letter. I told you about the $100 at Savannah, and I gave John Hull 15.50 of it to take care of his moving expense to our house. Enclosed herewith is Mr. Chamberlain’s check for $35.00. His note says he has not had the papering done as yet. It is being endorsed for deposit.

Andrews and I are going now to see the office space used last year. Tomorrow AM we take bids also get a register from Civil Service for some stenographs. Gaddis will be here Monday. I’ll leave here Monday night for Fargo.

With love
Walter.

February 18, 1938

Chicago 2/18 -’38

We left Wash 5PM yesterday and expect to get to Mpls tomorrow 8 AM. A few hours here and I am getting some gloves & light weight wool sox. Cold weather ahead. Will be Mpls through Monday, Fargo ND on Tues., then stops Montana & south to St. Lake City to meet RA and Townsend. Expect to be San Antonio in about 10 days. Cannot tell just when.

Claudelle had not arrived Wash when I left but is expected there.

WED.

February 18, 1938

February 18, 1938

February 16, 1938

My dear Sweetheart,

I am enclosing the annuity contract with a receipt of the Mass. Mutual that monthly payments to July 20 are charged to the loan. The difference between $1500 & $1790.01 equals the $50 monthly payments less interest. Payments made between now and July 20 apply on the principal. I am enclosing a yellow envelope which gives the agent’s address at Savannah (H H Wilson). I think we should send $100 per month and mark the checks Reduction of Loan on A2620.

February 16, 1938

February 16, 1938

The papering is being done at the Dallas house this month and the check from Mr. Chamberlain will be a small one. The check for the 1st payment on the Savannah house was to have been made to you by Mr. George McDonnel so you could deposit it. By this time you have received it, no doubt. I am enclosing the cancellation by Mrs. Nellie Adams which should be kept with our deed in the safety box. Could you replace them in the box also put the Kehoe notes in there for protection.

Enclosed are two old receipts from the Mass Mutual which I had in my bag. Also deposit slips for Lewis Dunbar & Walter White for Nov. 3, 1936. They show the total amounts of the accounts at that time. Please place them in their pass books.

I presume Mr. Townsend sent my check to Minneapolis, West Hotel as I gave this as the address. I have enough money to get to Mpls but for safety I’ll cash a check here on the San Antonio Bank for $50 tomorrow. Am planning to leave tomorrow night for Mpls with Mr. Gaddis. Mr. Andrews will leave about tomorrow too. The authority for 500 thousand to run until July 1 was given today and I started on grasshopper payroll today. Mr. Townsend also started on that payroll today. He and RA will be ready to leave the latter part of this week & will meet Gaddis and me at Salt Lake City. I’ll return by Arizona, N. Mex., get a Studebaker at San Antonio & return to Mpls by College Sta., Texas, Oklahoma A&M & other state colleges en route to Mpls.

Please send a monthly check of $29.15 to Southland Mortgage Col, Gulf States Bldg., Dallas & mark it 3010 Kirmine St. &c.

Will make out expense accounts & income tax at Mpls.

This work is going to be one big rush with shipments of hundreds of cars of poisoned bait into 24 Western states. There are to be about 110 field men & about 10 in the office at Mpls. The season is short for g-hoppers and we are going to be rushed. Think it best to wait until after the rush is over before moving to Mpls. By that time I can tell more about the permanency of that program for me.

Strong will go to the Houston meetings on the 24th & will drive one of the Studebakers from San Antonio.

Claudelle is to be here soon & hope she gets here before I leave tomorrow.

I tried to find the slides showing C.E. larvae in the skin but I am not sure that they are in the dozen boxes of slides I found. Spent about 2 hours looking tonight & will ask Dr. B to send all of them to Dr. K.S.

The Cushings are leaving here Sat. for Texas East meetings at Houston & will see you at San Antonio. I spent 2 nights with them here. Pauline is over her operation & I ate dinner with them Sunday. Dave cooked chicken & dumplings and did a good job of it. I had dinner with the Bishopps one evening.

With lots of love and looking forward to reaching San Antonio.

Your
Walter.

Don’t worry about Evalyn. I have no idea I’ll stop at any places in the Dakotas except Brookings S.D. & Fargo N.D. at the college. I’ll bet she is short & fat like her ma.

W.E.D.

February 15, 1938 (Ina)

Tuesday Afternoon.
Feb. 15, 1938.

Dearest Sweetheart:

Today we were very happy to have your letter written Friday.

Do you really want us to wait until school closes? I’m perfectly willing to go sooner if you think you will be at headquarters enough for us to see you once in a while. Will you be traveling a great deal between now and June, or will most of your time be spent at Minneapolis? You plan for us to move after the “big rush” is over. When will that be? In the meantime, do you expect to have any occasion to see us in San Antonio? The logical time for us to move seems to be after school closes the last day of May but I don’t want to desert you nor do I want to be in your way.

February 15, 1938 (Ina)

February 15, 1938 (Ina)

When does this new job cease to be a secret? Mrs. Welker excitedly called me up the other day to know if we were going to move. Mr. Wilkie had heard at the pink boll worm office that the screw worm office was closing and Mr. Townsend was to begin work there. I didn’t give her any idea where we would be or what you would be doing. I told her we probably would know when you returned from Washington.

Will you have something to do with the Mormon cricket work too?

Has your cold gotten well? I do hope so.

We went to Uvalde last week-end. The family pledged secrecy when I told them of your new work. They were proud of you for being assigned to such an important problem and were brave about our moving so far away. They expect to move into their new home about March 1. It is going to be pretty. Reitha was elected the most popular girl in the junior class and Thelma Lee (though married) was elected the most beautiful in the senior class. They won by a large majority. This is for the annual.

Today at noon Mr. Welker telephoned that he had a fine new boy. It came about 2 A.M. and everything is lovely. His name is Thomas Fowler. I’ll go to the hospital to see them soon. He will use Lewis Dunbar’s basket.

I’m invited to a tea to be given tomorrow afternoon in a home on West King’s Highway. Don’t you just love ‘em?

Yes, I signed the deed in the presence of Mrs. Schroeder and the notary (with seal) and mailed it to Mr. O’Donnell the same day I received it.

Sunday A.M. while we were at Uvalde Mama received a special delivery letter from Claudelle telling of her transfer. I hope she reached Washington before you left. I was sorry Mama & Papa had that news on top of news of our prospective move.

Madie says she would love to go with us. I warned her about the climate, distance from her home etc. but she didn’t mind. She corresponds occasionally with a friend who lives in those parts so she knows a little about the country. I think it would be a great comfort to have her with us. What do you think?

The children keep asking when you are coming home. Lewis Dunbar saves you a piece of chewing gum almost every day. I’d love to see you too.

I love you, Honey.

Always, your
Ina.

P.S. I’m glad you sent Mother Dove the check.

February 11, 1938

Stationery from the Bellevue Hotel, 15 E St. NW Washington, DC.

Friday Night.

My dear Sweetheart,

I am beginning to get oriented in the status of the g hop program but I have a lot to learn about it. Mr. Gaddis was not able to get away so soon and I welcome this chance to get some of my own SW work rounded out and to learn more about my new job. It is about the biggest control job when one considers the area of about 20 states extending from Arizona & Texas to the Canada line, and the very short season filled with long days.

February 11, 1938

February 11, 1938

I think you should finish the school year and plan to move to Mpls after the big rush is over. If the program does not go over perhaps we can stay in Texas and research screw-worms.

I talked to Claudelle last night. She is coming up here about the 16th to work here.

RA had a time deciding to accept the Mormon Cricket job as assistant leader but I phoned him tonight and he says OK. Bishopp offered him a place in charge of the Menand station but at a lower salary.

Have just had a wire from Quarterman & he accepts a place as 3d in command of the G-hopper ship. He will report when I call for him. At first he declined but I wired him again. Also he phoned me last night.

I spent two nights with Cushings & then came here. Prof. Harned invited me to his home but I told him I had so much paper to work & study that I had to decline. This gave me a chance to come here, otherwise he could criticize me for going to Cushings. He would recommend a man for every vacancy if I visited with him on that line. We have some good college graduates to choose from, ones with previous experience on G-hopper control.

Pauline was operated on for appendicitis but I have not seen the Halls. She is getting along OK & today is about the 5th day. May see them Sunday if I am here though I expect to have a lot of study & plans.

Had dinner with the Bishopps the 2nd night I was here and they were very cordial. Bitsie’s husband does the same kind of advertising work as she. They work for the same advertising company & he makes colored pictures of her pies & cakes etc. He seems to be OK.

Am enclosing a receipt for premiums on the annuity for 6 mos. This was added to our loan of $1500. The policy was forwarded to me here & I’ll send it to you when I have a long envelope. Did you return the deed to Savannah? You will receive 180 notes & the debt deed. They should be kept in the safety box at the bank.

With love
Your Walter