Correspondence (incoming): Th - Tu, 1893-1904

Vina Calif Sept. 5, 1893

Mrs. Jane L. Stanford Menlo Park, Calif.

Dear Madam:-

I received your letters of Sept., 4th., informing that $500.00 had been sent to pay off the men laid off by Mr. Copeland, etc., also requesting advice as to the amount due the 11 men discharged by Mr. Copeland the day you left Vina.

I herewith enclose list of the names of the men discharged, with the amount due each. The total amount is $522.34.

Respectifully, P. O. Thomas

List of men discharged by J.S. Copeland.

China Jim 62.66 H. Van Winkle 67.32 P. Halfretty 61.14 R. Culbertson 60.69 C. Metka 67.12 C. Henderson 66.74 W.P. Donnelly 28.16 Steve Price 38.37 Joe Honsor 6.54 Joe Caspar 6.93 Ah Sing 56.66 _________________ $522.34

13 North Pearl St. Albany, N.Y. Dec 9th 1901.

Mrs Leland Stanford, My Dear Mrs Stanford,

My only excuse for this infringement upon your busy life is the long and valued interest which you take in the Albany Orphan Asylum.

The year 1900 was a trying one. When we were plagued by the prevalence of measles followed by a coma, - fatal to several girls, among whom it was alone confined.

The year 1901 has been even more memorable. This year we were tried by nearly 200 cases of diptheria in the Asylum and nearly 60 cases of small pox in a mild type thereof among the small chlidren in the Lathrop Memorial, in which two latter instances, - thanks to our faithful employees, nurses + physicians, - no death occured.

The past year has also brought serious

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losses among our Directors.

Gen John F. Rathbone, after a long service, passed away. His loss was followed in May last by that of Mr Acors Rathbone and Dec. 1st inst by that of Mr John G. Myers.

These men were devoted and faithful to little children and will be greatly missed.

Rev Wallace Buttnick, the pastor of the Emanuel Baptist Church, takes the place of Gen Rathbone in the Board; a son of your old friend, Gen Robert C. [Ponyn?], Mr Charles L. [Ponyn?], the place of Mr Rathbone + the last vacancy remains unfilled.

During the last two months we have been grossly assailed by the Commissioner of Public Charities of the City of Albany and charged with gross neglect on the part of the trustees + with great brutality on the part of the employees.

We do not understand the animus of this official but we do know that he has treated us with great ill treating and falsehood.

These attacks having continued and

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having been circulated by him in the press, - we have asked + are now having an official examination by the State Board of Charities, conducted by gentlemen.

The institution is not perfect, our buildings are old, out of date and entirely insufficient for our too large family of about 425 boys + girls. Some of these boys are lawless and criminal and give us trouble enough - which has been largely multiplied by the bad counsel and course of this commissioner, who has been promoted by the political power far beyond his capacity for good heeding, conduct and judicial investigation.

Perhaps it was an evil day when the institution accepted orphans from the cities and counties for pay,- giving the low politican an entrance and an opportunity to injure.

Some of these slanders may come to your hearing and during this official investigation - the Trustees mean, if possible, to maintain a dignified silence.

But let me assure you that the present managers and employees of this great