Yesterday was a busy day in Chamal.  Early in the forenoon our main loafing center, the front of the forty-four foot store building, began to present a lively appearance.  Later on anxious expressions could be detected on the faces of many, and long before the noon hour every able bodied American colonist would have answered roll call here except A. P. Cole, who had gone for freight for the one and only store in Chamal.  The cause for this gathering was the sale in the forenoon of many articles not yet disposed of and belonging to the original Chamal and bought with the hacienda.  Much interested and some spirited bidding was had.  Derr, Rogers and Dr. Porter got a little excited over the sale of a dining table and no bid of less than $1 was cried by the auctioneer until $20 was reached when John Overton, in his most knowing way, bid $25.  This took the breath of the other bidders and before they could catch breath and find just where they were the table was knocked down to Overton, much to the disgust of the others, and I have since learned very much to the disgust of Overton.  Many articles useful to the colonists are yet to be sold and if you, Mr. Editor, will get down by next Saturday, we can sell you a printing outfit, no doubt first-class, as it was just now discovered we possessed such a piece of machinery, it being located in the crib around a lot of rubbish.

Soon after the dinner hour the directors had a short meeting at which it was decided every person who was the owner of $250 or five shares of stock, at a certain date should be allowed to draw a twenty acre lot adjoining or near the town, also a town lot, provided he would build a house thereon within one year.  Soon tickets were prepared and A. W. Putnam was assigned the place once held by the blind boy in the Louisiana lottery.  We did not blindfold A. W., but John Overton held Charley Rogers’ hat, a very tall Mexican tile, so high that it made Putnam red in the face to reach up then down and get the precious little card boards, each of which contained a lot and block number.  Every legal colonist present had enrolled his name and when his name was called Putnam called the number and the thing was done.  Of course not quite so large a crowd as Richards had at his famous Kiowa-Comanche drawing, but what we lacked in numbers we made up in enthusiasm, and so we had a sure enough drawing and all are happy.

Soon after the crowd dispersed music was heard and a notice was served on the writer that a regular ball would soon be in progress on the public plaza unless a protest was made.  Having heard many inquiries from the leading ladies of the colony as to why the peons had failed to have their regular Saturday night ball, also a desire on the part of the male members of the colony who have left wives and children in Oklahoma, that these Saturday night festivities be again inaugurated at an early date, and to tell the truth, Mr. Editor, as we somehow can’t keep our off foot still when good old dance music is pealing forth, of course, the dance went on.  The writer knowing the usual promptness that the average Baptist displays in telling on the Methodist when he luckily catches him coming out of the back door of a saloon wiping the perspiration off of his whiskers or hanging around where, it is supposed Methodists should not go, was late in going out, having much business to attend to, also being assured the dance would go until called off in the morning.  Gee! How we did wish to be young again or at least that it wasn’t against the rules of the church to dance.  We at one time found twenty-seven couples indulging in the maizy waltz and, believe me or not, they know how.

Seen at the dance: -- Geo. Moore was looking for a fellow. Bro. Talley heard a commotion and just ran out to see what it was all about.  Mr. and Mrs. Joe Miller came to let Earl see the Mexicans dance.  Mr. Parmer had to help keep the peace and Mrs. Parmer and little Grace couldn’t stay by themselves.  Mrs. Blalock declared she wasn’t much of a church member no how.

Our people were so anxious to see what they had drawn that a general exodus from Chamal began early this morning and a very small crowd showed up at Sunday School, but the few faithful were on hands and “Christ’s sermon on the mount” was read by Mr. Garrett and ably commented on by Bros. Talley, Derr and Putnam, with the lesser lights nodding assent when a particular chord was struck.

As I write our people come straggling in from the day’s inspections of claims.  J.T. Young could have done no better had he put in two days in making his selection.  Charley Rogers failed to find a two story stone house on his and don’t know how about it.  Joe Miller found his twenty-acre lot fine for farming, but the palm timber would require more manual labor than Joe cares to bestow on it just now and is in the market for a swap.  John Overton says he came to Mexico to be satisfied with anything coming his way and so far is happy, but could spare a few ticks.  Bro. Gorham, says, “she’s fine.”  A.H. Olds struts around like a banker since viewing his new possession.  Emmett Bledso wishes to trade one-half of his corner lot for a saw mill printing press and a bay mule.  Several are figuring on stone and adobe buildings.  These may dwindle down to a palm shed, however, before the real construction is begun.  When we get nicely located will invite you down.

Geo. E. G.

P.S  Have just learned old Sister Taylor is very sick.

UNCLE TALLEY’S LETTER
CHAMAL, March 6, ‘03

Friend Crit: -- Things are getting all right very fast.  We at last have full possession of Chamal.  Yesterday the manager for the bank delivered the papers to Geo. E. Blalock, giving the coloy full and complete possession and control.  Saturday the town lots and twenty-acre tracts were allotted.  Sunday and yesterday all went and looked at their allotments, all generally well pleased and some are delighted.  I went yesterday and looked at mine and find that they are as good as I want.  It is truly cheering to see the piles of bamboo and the forks and poles that line the roadside and are being placed on the lots, and last night the talk was about fencing, planting, inquiring where to get orange plants, bananas, seed corn and cotton.

Mrs. Geo. T. Ingram is looking every moment for her husband, who has been so long in the city of Mexico, and then our joy will be complete.  The sick are all improving.  Putnam with a complete surveying outfit began running a meridian line from southeast corner of the land allotted to the south line of the hacienda.

Five shares of stock were sold yesterday to a Mr. Priddy from Weatherford, Texas, who has been on the way ever since January with his family.  They arrived in San Antonio the Sunday we were there, having come through the mud and rain with his wagon and team.  He left them there in the wagon yard and came on the train to Escandon several days ahead of us undecided whether to bring his family or not.  He went back and after much expense and trouble is now on the way here.