Letter written by Louis Alexander MacDonald - Harris County Texas John Hendry 13 May 2001 ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ************************************************************************** Transcript of a letter from Louis Alexander MacDonald, the son of Henry E. MacDonald of Houston, Texas, to his Uncle Roderick in Melbourne, Australia. APR 13 1908 To My Christian Uncle, Tis after many days I again pen you a few lines to let you know that we are all in good health and all working. Father had me to send you some postal cards which he picked out for you. You do not seem to really know how much he loves you for he continually talks of you etc. Probably you have heard of the greatest money panic that this country has ever known is at its height or turning point. We do not known just exactly how it will turn till the election of a president and other Government Officials. As the Republicans have had control of the nations affairs so long they want it for an additional 4 Years. They have the dough. Other reason for the bringing on of these hard times is to starve out the laboring man as the “wages” will come down and bust up organized labor of this country. So far I have not read of any Union bursting in Texas Page 2 2 but have read time and time again where banks and numerous merchants going to the wall. Seems like the moneyed men of this United States started too early, for they seem to realize the fact that we (the laboring class) control the votes of this country, so the harder they push us, the harder we push them. And again instead of the laboring class being hurt, the worse it has turned for them to the Business Houses & Merchants. They are holding on by a hair’s breadth now or other words trembling in the balance. The H. & T. C. shops are now working 8 hours a day and 3 days a week, something that was never known in the Road’s history. The carpenter’s Union in this City have voted to the last man to stand pat and tide the great wave over, and most of the 500 men have left for smaller towns and works so as to help keep their solemn oath. Why for the last 3 weeks I have worked in a new town named South Houston 10 miles from here and come home every Saturday night on the train. They pay there $3 for 9 hrs work while the boys in Houston get $4 for 8 hours work. Pretty tough to tough it on the road such as sleeping in a barn and sometimes a tent with the cool wind blowing in the Page 3 3 cracks and eating bum grub, but Uncle you do not know how much the American Union man will endure and how many hardships he will stand for the death blow to child and women labor in factories and sweat shops. Father is also a Union machinist. Wish to state that we are pretty well fixed and hope to stand this financial money flurry. Sis does not intend getting married. She is working as a Stenographer in one of the largest Dry Goods Houses in the City. The boy is stout & healthy with the features of Scotland stamped on his face, very bright and intelligent. Wish to state that I received your paper of the Young Man’s Literature. Many thanks for the same. While Pa’s home we are fixing up our home such Page 4 4 painting, new fences and working in our vegetable garden which saves a many a dollar grocery stores bill. We have an abundance of fine grapes and fig trees. The garden is also a help to feeding the cows. Wish to state the good news that the Preachers, Deacons, Christian people of every Denomination and Churches are in a combined force and putting their shoulders to the wheel and what they are doing to the Wiskey and Liquor traffic is a shame. Country after country are going dry. Breweries are closing down and the buildings are being used as factories and warehouses. Let the good work continue. You can bank that Prohibition will win inside of two years. Pa corresponds regular with his niece Mrs Margaret Georgianna MacLeod. Wish to inform you that the crops of the country are going to exceed those of last year by a large margin. No frost, good moisture, just the right kind of weathers at the right time. Things look like they are opening up a bit in the building line of this city. A new RailRoad building Page 5 5 two depot and freight sheds/yards. The company bought 10 blocks right in the residence district and it looked wrong for the city to grant a RR. the right to buy 10 city blocks and compel the people to sell or move their houses. Most of the houses were large two and a half story. They are all moved now and one large Jewish Church (brick) was torn down. The Government is going to build a $400,000 Post Office. The County is going to build a large 3 story brick Court House comprising a block. The Money Men are building a 5 story modern fire-proof Theatre. Two sisters of the Scanlin family are going to build a 12 story Office building on principal Main Street corner. A Newspaper is going to build a 12 story Office Bld. also in business district. These last two buildings held back for 6 or 10 months at least till the money starts going around more freely. Page 6 6 Kindly excuse heavy writing it seems like my pennmanship is getting on the back list. I went through the Eight Grade in school and have a pretty fair knowledge of Arithmetic so I have decided to work one year more as a Journeyman Carpenter then I’m going to become a Contractor. Can’t get rich making from 31/2 to $4 a day. Will again ask you to excuse long and troublesome letter because I am a talking piece of furniture. Also being as I received your last letter of Aug 28.07, if my writing is tiresome to you just let me know and it will cease and no harm done. I am a pecular fellow, there is not a person in the world that I hate - do not know what that word means. Will close with best wishes for you and Yours. From your Unseen Effectionate Loving American Nephew Louis A. Macdonald 835 Cortland St. - full address on envelope. Letter written by Louis Alexander MacDonald - Harris County Texas John Hendry 13 May 2001 ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ************************************************************************** Transcript of a letter from Louis Alexander MacDonald, the son of Henry E. MacDonald of Houston, Texas, to his Uncle Roderick in Melbourne, Australia. APR 13 1908 To My Christian Uncle, Tis after many days I again pen you a few lines to let you know that we are all in good health and all working. Father had me to send you some postal cards which he picked out for you. You do not seem to really know how much he loves you for he continually talks of you etc. Probably you have heard of the greatest money panic that this country has ever known is at its height or turning point. We do not known just exactly how it will turn till the election of a president and other Government Officials. As the Republicans have had control of the nations affairs so long they want it for an additional 4 Years. They have the dough. Other reason for the bringing on of these hard times is to starve out the laboring man as the “wages” will come down and bust up organized labor of this country. So far I have not read of any Union bursting in Texas Page 2 2 but have read time and time again where banks and numerous merchants going to the wall. Seems like the moneyed men of this United States started too early, for they seem to realize the fact that we (the laboring class) control the votes of this country, so the harder they push us, the harder we push them. And again instead of the laboring class being hurt, the worse it has turned for them to the Business Houses & Merchants. They are holding on by a hair’s breadth now or other words trembling in the balance. The H. & T. C. shops are now working 8 hours a day and 3 days a week, something that was never known in the Road’s history. The carpenter’s Union in this City have voted to the last man to stand pat and tide the great wave over, and most of the 500 men have left for smaller towns and works so as to help keep their solemn oath. Why for the last 3 weeks I have worked in a new town named South Houston 10 miles from here and come home every Saturday night on the train. They pay there $3 for 9 hrs work while the boys in Houston get $4 for 8 hours work. Pretty tough to tough it on the road such as sleeping in a barn and sometimes a tent with the cool wind blowing in the Page 3 3 cracks and eating bum grub, but Uncle you do not know how much the American Union man will endure and how many hardships he will stand for the death blow to child and women labor in factories and sweat shops. Father is also a Union machinist. Wish to state that we are pretty well fixed and hope to stand this financial money flurry. Sis does not intend getting married. She is working as a Stenographer in one of the largest Dry Goods Houses in the City. The boy is stout & healthy with the features of Scotland stamped on his face, very bright and intelligent. Wish to state that I received your paper of the Young Man’s Literature. Many thanks for the same. While Pa’s home we are fixing up our home such Page 4 4 painting, new fences and working in our vegetable garden which saves a many a dollar grocery stores bill. We have an abundance of fine grapes and fig trees. The garden is also a help to feeding the cows. Wish to state the good news that the Preachers, Deacons, Christian people of every Denomination and Churches are in a combined force and putting their shoulders to the wheel and what they are doing to the Wiskey and Liquor traffic is a shame. Country after country are going dry. Breweries are closing down and the buildings are being used as factories and warehouses. Let the good work continue. You can bank that Prohibition will win inside of two years. Pa corresponds regular with his niece Mrs Margaret Georgianna MacLeod. Wish to inform you that the crops of the country are going to exceed those of last year by a large margin. No frost, good moisture, just the right kind of weathers at the right time. Things look like they are opening up a bit in the building line of this city. A new RailRoad building Page 5 5 two depot and freight sheds/yards. The company bought 10 blocks right in the residence district and it looked wrong for the city to grant a RR. the right to buy 10 city blocks and compel the people to sell or move their houses. Most of the houses were large two and a half story. They are all moved now and one large Jewish Church (brick) was torn down. The Government is going to build a $400,000 Post Office. The County is going to build a large 3 story brick Court House comprising a block. The Money Men are building a 5 story modern fire-proof Theatre. Two sisters of the Scanlin family are going to build a 12 story Office building on principal Main Street corner. A Newspaper is going to build a 12 story Office Bld. also in business district. These last two buildings held back for 6 or 10 months at least till the money starts going around more freely. Page 6 6 Kindly excuse heavy writing it seems like my pennmanship is getting on the back list. I went through the Eight Grade in school and have a pretty fair knowledge of Arithmetic so I have decided to work one year more as a Journeyman Carpenter then I’m going to become a Contractor. Can’t get rich making from 31/2 to $4 a day. Will again ask you to excuse long and troublesome letter because I am a talking piece of furniture. Also being as I received your last letter of Aug 28.07, if my writing is tiresome to you just let me know and it will cease and no harm done. I am a pecular fellow, there is not a person in the world that I hate - do not know what that word means. Will close with best wishes for you and Yours. From your Unseen Effectionate Loving American Nephew Louis A. Macdonald 835 Cortland St. - full address on envelope.