Iola Kans 1-31-1904

My Dear Mabel

I will try and write you a few lines to day in answer to your good letter that I received some days ago. it made me feel good to get such a nice letter from my dear girl. I wrote a letter to Blanche last Sunday but have got no answer yet. Well we have been having it pretty cold here for the last week. about the first real winter weather we have had but we dont notice it much for we have natural gas to burn and it is the [best?] fuel you ever seen. We have all we can burn day and night for one Dollar per month. Natural Gas is what made Iola. Iola has a population of 12 thousand. has three rail roads and almost all kind of manufacturing Plants and Electric Railway to Gas City and LaHarpe I work for the United Iron Works Company of Springfield Mo. they have a large works here. they have fine schools here. have six fine large school buildings. I think Iola will be one of the leading cities of Kans in a few years. I hope you can fix up matters so you can come down a see us next summer. Mabel have you ever been off to the old Place where your mamma was raised. if you have tell me all about how it looks for that is one of the Dearest spots on earth to me. What is Ross Clark doing in Saint Joseph? is he in some kind of business. it hardly seems possible that he is a man. I can only see him as a little white headed boy.

We are all as well as usual. Katie is in very poor health all the time. The boys are both having good health this winter. Well Mabel I will close for this time. I cant write a long letter like you can but will write as often as I can.

Love and best wishes from all your loving Papa
R.D. Bailey

15 Tenn. St.

[Envelope addressed to:]

Miss Mabel Bailey
Trenton Missouri
607 Harris Ave