Letter from C. Hart Merriam to John Muir, 1902 Sep 12.

[letterhead]San FranciscoSept. 12, 1902.My dear Mr. Muir:Expected to see you long before this but have been so crowded for time that I have put off going until a little later. Our running zigzag lines across [the?] Sierra foothill region. Have been working in Nevada, [illegible], [illegible] & [illegible] & Tuolumne counties & am just setting out for Mariposa & M[illegible] counties.. I want to get a lot of this work behind me, instead of having so much of it staring me in the face. Had a fine trip to Santa L[illegible] [peak?] & adjacent country. Also ran a line across for [illegible] Valley to the San Joaquin. Its still hot in the foothills —102° to 108° [nearly?] every day where I have been at work.03049 Was [surprised?] to st[illegible] day to find Ly[illegible] & t[illegible] [illegible] on the American River. What a grand painting Keith has made of Kern [Canon?]. Tell Helen to keep her courage up & Wanda not to grow despondent and thin, for I\u27m coming to cheer \u27em up just as soon as I can. Hope you are working on the tree book now. Will bring over [my?] photographs when I come. With kindest regards to Mrs Muir and all of [yours?],A[illegible]C. Hart Merriam -John MuirMartinez, Calif