Aspen Colo. April 17th, ’81

Dear Jule,

I have been here a couple weeks so I will try to let you know what little I can of Aspen. I will begin at Denver. I left there in the morning about half sick. Reached Leadville 7:30pm. I had intended to stop in Leadville one day to look around the City but a couple of hours the next morning satisfied me as it was a cloudy day and very muddy and cold. I then took the stage for Independence 35 miles but the snow got so soft before night that we had to stop at the foot of the range 10 miles from Independence. We started again at three o'clock in the morning in order to cross the range while the snow was frozen. We reached Independence for breakfast, and it was a hard old breakfast for a fellow that had a hard days walk to do here the less. I left my baggage for the jack train fitted on my gum boots and prepared for a snowey tussel for Aspen. Reached here about five o'clock and found the boys all well.

Aspen is a new camp I can't say anything for the mines as I haven't been to any of them, they are mearly prospects yet and have not produced much mineral.

There is a very nice town site here plenty room to build a city. It is located in the valley South of Castle creek on the Roaring Fork. The boys are holding six lots and have put up a stone building on one of them costing them $500.00. The boys may hit it and, maybe they won't. Of course we don't know whether it will make a town, City, or what. I haven't the confidence in the place that the boys have although it may make a large place.

Geo. is bound to come here I supose he will be on the way before this reaches you. I wish he had staid in the east for I can't see what he will do here. I think by next fail he will be glad to take his back tracks.

Jes says whenever you go home and write to us that you always say the folks are well and doing well. It seems he gets letters contradicting that, saying that mother looks very bad and that she is continuely wishing that one of us would come home.

Father has made Jes different offers if he would come home and take the farm. Jes says if he thought or knew the folks needed him he would go back this fall. I can't see how they can get along without some one at home, and am going to do all I can to influence him to go this fall for mothers sake if nothing more. It seems to me that home is deserted now that the folks are getting old and ought to have someone with them. I hope when you go home you will look into things a little and speak to Jes about it. I can't see what they will all get to do after getting here as there is not much doing yet.

A.D. Bourquin

—1889

Dear Jule:

I received your letter last Wednesday and have had no time to answer till today. I will make my letter short for Gus is going to write you today and I suppose he will tell you all about Aspen and I will also send you a copy of the first issue of our Aspen paper which will tell you more.

I see no way just now that I would like to risk your money in, excepting buildings, that, I think is the surest way of getting it back and that may be a failure. Mining property I know but little about it. I will not risk anything in it…go it was just my work. Lots are not for sale yet…and only way we can hold them is to build on them after of before sixty days…ter staking, our building not less than 12 x 14 will hold a lot, on… building. That will cover 236 square feet of ground will hold two lots.

The company expects to soon have their title to this town site, then they will sell lots at $35 each, the agent says, but the chances are that they will ask more by that time.

I am sorry to hear how things are going with you but I think if you work it right you will come out on "top of the heap". I remember of Mr. Eyr saying that all of the stock and store were to be yours and Dr. Shugart must remember the…for he was present and…ough his questioning Eyor, it was said. This was said in the store, you were there, do you remember it.

If my services are needed at anytime let me know but I hope it will not be before next fall if then. I don't know as I just…the selling out…, night but at any rate makes yourself safe and stick to it.

Gust [sic} has done very poorly since he came to Colorado on account of his health.

You say I never told you what I done since I came to this state until I got on this job, so I will just give you a short sketch of my doings. I first came to Denver from Kansas, then I went to Leadville there took sick and was advised by…doctor to go to Denver and…his way east so he went…I was sick there about two weeks. There I tried to work but could only work about half of the time, that completely busted me, in that time my expenses were $150. The doctor that I was with did not charge me a cent. From Denver I came here to work for this company. I drove team till January 9th then I took the engine on this will to run and I am at it yet but expect to soon quit it for it is a little more that I can stand, the heat is to much for me. The agent told me a few days ago that the first job he had of any account he would give me the first show on it, if not I will have to look for something else.

My building is finished outsid [sic] only. I have not rented it yet and don't…for some time as it is not just where I should have liked to…present time but it will be allright…time. Cost about $500.