HACIENDA CHAMAL, Mar. 11, ‘03
Friend Crit: - The Blalock Mexico Colony all left Escandon for Chamal in detachments.  Mr. Snell being sick remained until the others were all gone and finished moving his things Saturday evening.  I went in stage coach to Xincotincatl, where I remained until Tuesday.  It rained last night and is still raining today.  Found all well sheltered here and fairly comfortable except our secretary, Joe Sweet and a few others, who were not afraid of “alligators” and had confidence in those reports of “dry season,” camped on the river where there was much water, neglecting to take wagon sheets or tents found themselves uncomfortably damp and this morning were here looking for those necessary things.

I was sorry to hear that some of our good women, who had so patiently borne the discomfort of the tedious ride in the cars during our long detention in Texas, caused by the extremely rainy season and abundance of mud, snow and water, shed some tears.  Those fears are now gone and I hope they will not again be afraid of dry weather.  Messrs. Geo. E. Blalock, Geo. R. Moore, John Overton and others are out hunting a suitable location for the city which we expect to see inhabited by a happy people, who will enjoy the fruit of their labor and remember with joy and gratitude the day on which they arrived at Chamal.

On Sunday night we had the pleasure of meeting, at the hotel in Xincotincatl, Messrs. Childress, Paterson and Smith, who had been to Chamal with the first detachment and were on their way back to Tennessee.  They were much encouraged by what they learned from Mr. Fitzgerald, who has been engaged in farming for several years on a tract of 1700 acres, situated in the fork of Forlorn and Frio rivers, about four miles below Valmont.  He assured them that his land was not for sale at any price and there was much of the land that was as good as his and that one good crop could be raised any year without irrigation.

There are many things that the people who are left in Greer want to know and about which I hope to write when I know more.  There are several unsettled questions which I hope will soon be made plain.  I am not at all discouraged, have great confidence in the courage and good character of our people, they are a noble band and the more I see of them the stronger my faith in the success of the enterprise.  I have heard some very complimentary remarks by men of intelligence, who have seen them, and great things are expected.