Private Life / Retirement
December 17, 1870
Transcript
"Executive Mansion
Washington D.C. Dec. 17th, 1870
Dear Elrod:
You may strip the piece of land you spoke of next to Mr. Longs. Make in to rails all that is fit for it and the balance into cord wood; but do not sell any wood. I think in the Spring I will have a lime kiln’ built and if so we will want all the wood we can get from the place. If I do not go to California in the Spring I will spend at least a week on the place and give definite directions as to improvements. Sixty bushels of lime to the acre would bring up the land more than all the stable manure that can be put on it. -I would not haul grain to the mill to be ground for feed. The toll will amount to more than the advantage of feeding ground feed, besides the time consumed in hauling. If you had a few sows to follow your cows grain will go as far without grinding as with. The work of cleaning up undergrowth should go on as your hands have the spare time. How is the colt doing? He should be handled enough to keep him gintle. He is finely disposed and if there is anything in pedigree or form he should be very fast. I do not want him tried however in the least until I have put in the hands of a regular trainer.
Yours Truly
U.S. GRANT"
Paper, ink
Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site, ULSG 8807