Tempie, May, 1st (18)73

Dear Brother Moritz!

Your dear writing from February, 9th '73 is in my possession and tells me that I haven't heard from You for longer, what joyful surprise.   I had well promised in my last letter to have it followed by a 2nd one but came over it, which You Dear Brother well might graciously excuse.   I congratulate to the birth of your little daughter and must confess that you proceed very well and if you continue to do so there is no danger that the family dies out and I can confidentially stay a bachelor.   Your business, as I see, goes fine, which gives me real joy, stay with it, be careful and economical, so that you can live well and carefree at age.   The news from Lemgo aren't all how I would like to hear them.   Some old friend and relative have been taken away by the inexorable death, that the little cousins Wilhelm and Otto had to part from us that early has hit me very painful.   I had wished a much longer life to them.   With them the name Mohle died out.   Though we have to patiently comply, because we all are in order to go once and to give way for others.

You seem not to believe that I have the Apaches as neighbors, this is also not just comfortable, but to your peace of mind that in this valley we don't have to fear much from them.   The valley is too big and the mountains are too far away (the same are about 30 English miles away).   Do the Apaches try - which happens recently - to steal horses or cows during nighttime, they rarely come away with them.   Almost any time they got overtaken by the settlers following them and the tribe is regained before they manage to reach the hills of their homes.   But if they manage -with luck- to reach the mountains further pursuit is useless, the line of mountains, which runs along this country are far too high and pathless.   The ways and paths are almost only known by the Apaches.   Something on the position and style of Arizona.  Arizona is located on the southwest border of the United States, between Mexico and the mentioned [???].   The ground can be divided into 3 classes.   That one suitable for farming can only be found 2 or 3 English miles on both sides along the riverbanks.   The remaining land divides into mountains and deserts.   What I call desert here is ground that does not bring up more than low plants and cactus.   (Cactus which is know for you as decorative plants grows up here to heights up to 20 to 30 feet).

Grass in the heated deserts can only be found on the lower regions, whereas even in the summer rainwater is collected.   Drinking water often cannot be found in a range of 50 English miles and the courtiers and travelers need to bring along their own drinking water.   The stony mountains ("Rocky Mountains") run along through Arizona from north to south, it is mainly rock and mostly bare of any vegetation and occupies about 3/4th of the entire state.   The mountain range is very rich of metal, is however lesser made use of, because we are yet apart about 1000 English miles from the next railway line and the transportation [to the railway] is way too high.   And also because of the Indians, which make the mountains, their home, rather unsafe.   Once the railway (Texas Pacific), which is currently under construction, is ready the treasures of Arizona will open up and I hope that this day is no longer too far apart.

Dear brother, we are planting mainly barley and wheat around here, for which there is a good market all here.   The ground and climate is suitable for cotton, sugar plants and tobacco as well, but is not yet planted, because the transportation fees are too much.   Potatoes don't grow over here, I think the summers are too hot.   But we have melons, oranges and figs.   This years harvesting is not that good, we have a mediocre one.   The spring was too warm and the corn grew too ripe too rapidly.   The harvesting starts around next week.

Dear Moritz how is Ferdinand doing, is the same well up?   I ask you to send him friendly greetings.   I would like to hear something new from him as well.   How is the brother-in-law (teacher) doing?   You did not mention him so far, is he still well up?   Some merry recollection comes up back to the times when he himself was in Lemgo, I ask to friendly greet the teacher as well.   In the hope that this will (well reach) you I stay in faithful love;

Your Brother Conrad* let friendly greet.
Charles Bolzau

Please greet Mother **