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Lambert down there. Thus saving the expense of following up this a week, later. I expect -'to handle both propositions at the same time.
I note what you say with reference to making me Manger of the Texas Department and that looks good and sounds good. What do you think of "dubbing^me Manager Bond Election Department? This will give me a perfectly good excuse for butting in to Hew Mexico and Arizona which I am going to have to do about May because they don't know anything about the Old Spanish Trail out there and we must get them acquainted iJrith it.
Now with reference to your problems down there, I hope that you can just tie in to them without feeling any uneasiness about this Teaas division. Dr. Johnston is pretty safe on this end of the line and I have really been putting in about SO or 85 per cent of ray time on the ftork and it will bear fruit within 30 days, and I will guarantee that you will be more than pleased with it. With ail that the eastern part has been woefully neglected, the fact of the business is they have had no opportunity to get anywhere because they have had no leadership. I am still of the opinion it is better to stay on that job until it is finished rather than try to do half a dozen things at the same time. I believe this is your policy as well as mine and the Brownsville business will demonstrate beyond a doubt that the idea is a good one. Besides that if you can get that bridge business put over and those people there would put up the money to take care of you the publicity will go both ways from Mobile and will be a tremendous help in Louisiana as well as Florida. The fact of the business is you are helping the entire eastern section when you are helping Mobile.
I notice the Automobile Club's dinner on February 20th and the Highway Department members will be guests. I am betting that you will have an opportunity to put something over at that dinner provided you haven't already done so. This will be a great opportunity for you. Of-course it is too late now but if you had thought about it in time and got the Governor dyer from Louisiana and Mississippi and had the Alabama Governor on the job you will have done about six months work in one day.
Suppose I rib Dr. Johnston up to take his car and go down there in a couple of weeks and let him spend two or three weeks with you. I think we can get him to do it. He has asked me two or three times if hs^couldn't arrange to be away for a week or two and he and I would drive down and meet you at New Orleans, but I continue to tell him that I can't leave this Houston business until/he get .that division. Ft. Bend, and $5,000 out of Houston. I have decided to'hit"Beaumont now for $2,000 instead of $1,000. Got to have a little interest on the money.
Think I have about cleaned up everything I had on my mind and this will give you something to read instead of buying a magazine, so I have saved you a quarter.
Thanking you for your awfully nice letter qjf_the 11th, I am.
•llery truly yours.