Edwin S. Blanke
Pearce, Arizona
March 16, 1911 

Mr. Theodore L. Blanke 
618 Fulton St. 
Wausau, Wisconsin 

Dear Brother Theodore:- 

We received your letters of 3/2 and 3/8 with $10 and $100 in them. Also $20 from
Edna yesterday. Glad it came so quick. Arthur is going to file a contest on the 
east 1/2 of section 34. Neither has had a contest filed on before and both were 
filed on Feb. 17, 1907 for homestead. An easy case, I think. 

Well I've got over our grumzy long ago. I guess I told you that I received both 
packs of films and sets of pictures. If I didn't, it's because I forgot. I took 
two pictures again of neighbor's kids, but will take more of the place soon. We 
have over a foot of water in the big well and can't go no deeper just now. We 
set out a few trees (cottonwoods) today. We are going to
Courtland tomorrow, and Art is going to file.

Yes, you said that you were glad now, that I didn't go to Texas, or something 
like it. Don't care now anyway anymore what it was. We may get started to plow 
with five horses next week. We bought a riding plow. We will have to go to 
Cochise first and get a load of grain. 

About the well and pumping outfit. We haven't enough money to do anything with 
it for a while. We are going to get a small pump (pitcher pump) tomorrow for the
house well. Yes, we understand it right about Pa and his $100. It would be nice,
but he had better wait. 

Everybody who has an engine now is sure making use of it. It's hard to get hold 
of a second hand engine now. We might be able to buy a Mc Vichor engine on time.
A 4 H.P. one, and get a 2" or 2 1/2" centrifugal pump. That's big enough for us.
We will see what we can do later on. We are going to try to raise feed, so we 
can keep chickens and maybe pigs and a cow. We are going to plow about 30 acres.
Sorry Mamie had to have an operation. Hope she is alright now again. Yes, you 
have been doing alright about sending money. No, one contest on a place settles 
it.

I guess we will go to a literary meeting tomorrow night. A whole bunch. It's at 
the new school house they just built in this township.

Fine weather every day. One of the neighbors (Wright's) alfalfa is coming up 
fine. He has two acres in. 

Write soon. 
Your brother, 
Edwin 

P.S.
Art is reading a story. They are figuring on building a store and putting in a 
Post Office at Servoss. That's hardly five miles from here. We both signed a 
petition for it. 
Edwin 

P.P.S. (At Pearce) 
Art filed contest. Will write more when we hear from you again.
E.S.B.