Dear Dad & Mother,

      Well it is raining today so I tho't I would drop you a few lines. I received Inez letter yesterday. Sure glad to get it too. Will ans her latter.

      I forgot to tell you about the Fort. Building here are a little old all frame building but a nice place. But the fort is built on an awfull high point highest Fort arround here. We also a close to the street car line, does not take long to get to Frisco or the Beach.

      Boys from Coleridge that are here are: Leapley, Peck, 2 Wellington, 2 Fleener, Flynn, Keep, Houser, Keaster, 2 Oconnor, Yardmick, Obermeyer, Samson, Ware, Willey, Gartner, Newton. And Dutchy Kechen came yesterday so you see it isn't so lonely as it might be. I sure see a bunch of Chinamen & Japs, but the seem to be neat people.

      San Francisco is a pretty clean town. Now days, they have cut out a lot of rough places.

      I haven't wrote to Herb yet, but will tomorrow, as we stand inspection and get Sat afternoon off.

      Has dad got a blacksmith yet? How is Ernie getting along?

      You folks want to raise plenty of potatoes & beans because we sure are heavy on them in the army.

      They have just finished the Mess House & now we won't have to eat out in the dust now.

      Oh, say, would you please send me a few books of 1 & 2 cent stamps, I can't buy them in book form here, get them in the bulk, but the stick together so I can't use them.

      As for the officers I like them all fine. They & strict but after drill is over they are sure good fellows. The Commanding Officers seem to be nice fellows too but of course they don't have much to say to a recruit.

      I took my place on the carpenter trade yesterday, as we all have to do 1 day's work in the kitchen or building & I got my on the building but it was hard work.

      Well hows Earl's little Peter Ha Ha coming. Tell Pearl, she had ought to name him after me.

      Did they have much of a time taking Bill Stone's away? Be sure & tell me the particulars.

      Marjory said that Holcumb went crazy. What was the cause of that?

      I sent you folks each a picture of me & I want some of the other pictures Fred took & one of the ones Ernie & I had taken. I have three of the photo's left. Who should I send them to?

      The bunch in my tent are sure happy, they are wondering what they will do with their wages. Ha ha.

      I see by the papers, we get $25 now but I don't know for sure.

      Has Pearl & Wylma been in yet, I suppose all the oats are up.

      It sure gets cold about 3 oclock in the morning but we have plenty of covers us. The over coats they issued us sure are warm. I was down on the beach last nite. Pretty cool for much pleasure.

      Them pictures I had taken were taken down by the Cliff House. That sure is some place to get waffles to eat. But everything sure costs a lot out here.