08-16-21 

Edwin S. Blanke
Route #1, Phoenix, Arizona
August 16, 1921 

Mr. T. L. Blanke 
c/o Wurzburg Dry Goods Co. 
Grand Rapids, Michigan 

Dear Brother Theodore:- 

I gave up looking for a letter from you as it has been about four months since I
wrote you, more or less. We were glad to hear from you again and that you are 
getting along alright. We are all well. Harold always says his stomach hurts, 
but we are used to that. We may take him to a doctor some day to see what's 
wrong. Eva and I each gained about 10 pounds this spring, but it's been hot so 
long now, I feel like I've lost it all again. 

I received the pamphlet and read it, and mostly on the strength of it we bought 
(Eva did. She had the paper made out. I have not been on the place yet, but saw 
it once.) a ten acre place with a two-room shack on it for $2500. I had $60 and 
borrowed $40 to make the first $100 payment Monday, August 15th. The balance is 
$50 each month and interest every three months, besides, so I'll have to dig now
to pay that out. It's a fine location and extra good land. One mile from school 
and three miles from center of town, but the city houses go up to one mile of 
the place. Also, street car, but the city limits is two miles from us. We will 
move the 1st of the month. I had to pay rent for the six acres where we are now 
living for five months in advance, at $10 per month. There are 40 acres of good 
grass joining and no one farming it this year, so I am pasturing it too. We have
2 horses, 2 mules, 2 cows, and 5 heifers, all good milk stock. I am going to 
re-rent this place for $12.50 if I can. It's just out of the city limits and 
only 1/2 mile to the center of the business part of Phoenix. I can walk to work 
in 30 minutes. I have been lucky this summer. There are lots of idle men, but I 
have been busy all the time since March, except 4 weeks. One week of that we 
moved in, and another week we went to see Eva's folks. I have been getting $7.00
a day since the middle of July, and we have been saving too, only we were so far
in debt. I owe $60 rent on the place we had been living, but I don't intend to 
pay it, or I'll pay it and then charge him $60 to sign the quit claim deed to 
it. 

In my other letter I told you about Mamie coming out here, but you didn't answer
it, so am repeating it. I think you would save by letting Mamie come out here 
now and have the operation here. Eva could take care of the children and also 
have a good visit. It's not half as hot here as you may think, and cool every 
night from now on. The house is good and shady. Your proposition is good, but I 
get cold now when I think about those cold winters. We were surprised that the 
baby can walk already. I gave that to the boys you sent them. Thanks. 

It's no small country school where we live, but a large school. Edwin will go 
this year and Donald wouldn't have to go alone, or walk, as Edwin has Old Bell &
Bess to ride. I raised them when Pa and Tillie were out here. She's 9 years now.

Cotton is about ready to pick again and the last few days cotton went to 
raising. It’s 29 cents for #2 grade and the banker thinks it’s going up to 40 or
60 cents within 60 days or sooner. That is one way to get the farmers to pick 
it. Otherwise, they were not going to pick this crop at all. I still have 5 
bales, but unless I get over 28 cents for it, it is not worth it all. All above 
that is mine. Wages are keeping up fine so far, but we will soon be through with
the building I’m on and then I’ll have to find another. They are starting 
several $10,000 to $50,000 houses, so I think I can find a job again. As a 
whole, things have been going pretty good lately and it looks as if it is going 
to keep on. But we can never tell.

I bought a Ford roadster for $125 and had it worked over for $75 and got it all 
paid for. We owed the doctor $200, but he told Eva to forget that, so that 
helped a little. Best wishes from all of us to all of you.

Your brother,
Edwin