| Title: | John James Murphy to Martin Murphy, 18 September 1874 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4123 |
| Collection | Argentina - Murphy |
| File | murphy/98 |
| Year | 1874 |
| Sender | Murphy, John James |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | cattle breeder |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Uncalito, Argentina |
| Destination | Haysland, Co. Wexford, Ireland |
| Recipient | Murphy, Martin |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 1221 |
| Genre | sending for people, tobacco business, cattle business, illness, family |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Flor del Uncalito Dear Brothers, Sisters & Friends When in Bs. Ayres, not a month since, Margaret Pierce, Widow, late of the Barracks, spoke to me about sending for her brother-in-law, named Summers, and Family, but that she could only pay for the passage of one of them. And in order to get out the family altogether I undertook to pay for the others, they working in for me to the amount to pay. Mr. Brett has also sent to that neighbourhood for some boys recommended to him by Neil and Family, who has come out to him lately. It's likely all will be leaving there together as all are sent through the St. Patrick's Society, the passage of which is £10 each. Tell Summers that if any of his children is over 12 years old and not exceeding 14, to give in their age at 11½ as children over 12 are full passage and those under 12 half passage, children infants on the breast free. Mrs. Pierce was to have sent him the shipping papers and may have done so before now. She may send some money to him also. My business to Bs. Ayres this time is the same as last for the purpose of bringing out material to put up a dip for curing scab in sheep. It is an undertaking that cost about $50,000 dollars, and also cost about one dollar per head for the tobacco &c. to make the wash and pay for hands imployed to do it. The cost and expense will seem high to one not accustomed to the losses we sustain by scab. I expect this year to loose more from this cause alone than the whole undertaking would have cost me. The same has to be complained of every where. Nearly I may say every second year, though it's the first with me since I wired in the camp, as since then I may say scab has not troubled me till now, unless in my fine point, in which all through my losses has been great as the animals are of much more value. The reason why all Estancieros has not after adopted the principal of curing is because it has not proved as yet with those that tried if entirely successful. The reason of which I think is more owing to the want of practicle knowledge of same to regulate the proper proportions of the mixture, or at the time of working, seeking more to get through the job than attending properly to the application of the cure. Several Estancieros has got up the dip and if some has failed in being able cure their sheep it must be from the fact of the mixture being not properly attended, as it has proven a success in many cases, whether from mere chance or otherwise I cannot say. I contracted early this season for 3,000 fat sheep to be parted on or before the 1st of Octobre next, but from the scab the way it has set in I don't think I could take it on my conscience to compel him to fulfil it, though the business is a legitimate one. Moreover, from the great losses of sheep this last year I find I can almost make as good a sale by disposing of them by the cut, that is, all as the walk big & little. I believe I mentioned to you on previous occasion that the losses this year in both sheep and black cattle are something extraordinary. It's considered the latter is fully ½ disappeared, of which I am safe in saying there is full 10 per cent dead. If the South as usual the greatest losses has appeared, some districts to the North and many to the West has also suffered serious losses. All through this partido the losses has been very trifling, though close to it in certain places there has been great losses from cattle dying with same disease unknown. On the Caldera, Rojas, there has been no losses to speak of those that are provided from scab. Patt has sold fat sheep but the others has not, and for why, because their flocks were not dipped & Patt were. One of the many examples of the advantages of dipping. Brother William made a good sale this year, also owing to having got up the dip last year, where it has also being successful. This like all other new improvements in the system of stock farming, the Native Estancieros has not adopted it and look on it with suspicion and distrust. I have on this place about 1,075 head of cattle all large with the exception of a few calves belonging to the Milk Cows. Of them I have not been able make any sales this Winter owing to their low condition, thanks that they have been through the bad season, as I had no losses whatever in them. The cattle this year went to a fabulous price, $500 or $600 each, and that for animals in condition scarcely fit to kill. But no better could be found. Butter that being the plentiful season other years, could not be got at less than $30 dollars per lb., milk also in proportion dear. There is a fine property now for sale alongside 3½ square leagues of land and stock therein, but it's thought the same Family will be the purchasers as the sale is likely only made to regulate the claims of the Heirs. Were the public to be looked to as purchasers I should certainly be in for a part of it, even at a sacrifice, as yet it is not easily tell how the thing will come of. George has just arrived from Salto bringing me your letter of date 7th August, enclosing one for Peter Howlin. If we to hear of poor Margaret's illness, but I hope she is completely recovered. Let her take good care of herself. You nor she has no mind to expose yourself to the chance of bringing on complaints or sickness. I wish you not to do so, I have had attacks of same complaint also but I never let it come to a head and never felt more than a pain in the right side in the region of the Liver and never had to apply more than the receipt, I send you to effect a cure. Take one of those pills lying down at night. If she find them too strange let her reduce them by cutting a little off them so as to produce one motion of the bowels each day. She will find them good. I will answer your letter some other time as I leave the rest of this to finish when in Bs. As. Bs. Ayres, September 18, 1874. Dear Brother, I have nothing to add to the above more than to say I send a few papers though not of much interest. I leave here tomorrow morning for Salto. I take with me all I came for. Great interest felt among Estancieros about the sale of the property along side me. It is not known how it will come off. My love to all and I remain your Dear & affectionate Brother, John |
