
Washington
Jan. 9. 1857
My Dear Sir
As you will probably hear before this reaches you the Leavth. Matter has been
arranged by raising the appraisement 150 per cent – making a $10 lot $25,
and allowing the claimants to purchase. This I suppose will enable the Trustees
generally to purchase in the Town site. The question is whether my lots will
be made an exception to the rule. I would be glad to have a talk with you on
the subject but as I am not at all posted up in regard to the facts and circumstances
I can add little of anything to the suggestions contained in my last letter
to you in Dec. dated at this place and directed and mailed in Philada. I leave
the whole management to you with every confidence in your friendship and faithful
integrity as well as your prudence and shrewdness. You will consider the propriety
of a sale with privilege of repurchase – of outbidding the first
[Page 2]
attempts at competition in hope of [xxx] it – of threatening to bid for me on the lots of others if mine are not let alone – of giving out yourself or some one else as an undivided half owner and of making an actual bona fide Sale of a part on condition that the purchaser hold himself out as the purchaser of more – or without condition as you think best.
As I said in my former letter I am very reluctant to sell any lots unless we are driven to it by necessity in order to save them. My [xxx] by Kansas have been so heavy that it is necessary to make some of them up.
I expect to return to Kansas in the Spring which you can mention or not as you think best. As to the town I shall do my part toward its improvement and will as soon as possible improve some of my lots there to the general benefit of the place. The mention of this may be of use. I am also in the Confidence of some of the men who will probably control the Pacific Road when it is built and as Leavenworth is the [xxx] point from which it should strike
[Page 3]
for the Kansas valley I can probably at some day render the town an essential service. I have no interest in quindaro which is intended as the rival of Leavenworth and will seek none if I am fairly dealt with in the latter. If not I must help build up quindaro to make up my losses in Leavenworth and as I am an active member of our National Kansas Committee located at Chicago which has a great deal to do with emigration and has sent over 1000 emigrants into the Ty. since July my efforts could be made to tell. I throw out these ideas not for you but for others if you think best to use them
Do the best you can for me as your client and you will find me grateful
l
I hope you will be able to get my papers. There are many which I would be loth
to lose. If you think it desirable I should write for them and demand them instruct
me where to address and I will do so. I hope you get some Rents. The Lecompton
amount and the Rodrique note I leave for you to attend to. If you want any money
[Page 4]
let me know. You can address me at Easton under cover of B. G. Clark Mer. Hotel
N. Y. E A Hendry Cor. 6th & Arch Phila or A. C. Cattell Chestnut St. Phila.
or your correspondents and clients Bullitt & Fairthorne Phila. Will be glad
to hear from you
Very Truly
Your Friend
A H Reeder
J. A. Halderman Eq
Leavenworth
Kansas Ty
Please consider yourself my attorney in any thing that may turn up in Leavth or out and exercise large discretionary powers

