Dear George: I hear from Art that two Alcoa men visited the farm and that the tool shed is really to be a major project.1 I understand that your friend Alvord had intended to make you a present of this structure.2 From what I learn of its size I believe it should be stopped unless brought to conform to any one of the three following conditions:
(a) Mr. Alvord to delay the present to you until such time as I get out of my present office.
(b) To locate it at some point near the edge of my farm, but on the farm next door.
(c) You to pay some reasonable price, possibly on a discounted cost basis, for the structure, with the clear understanding that when we finally begin operations as partners on the farm, I should pay you half your cost price.
I believe that to allow Mr. Alvord now to give you this as a present, and locate it on my farm, could be subject to misinterpretation. I came to this conclusion last evening after hearing from Art how big a project the thing really is. Consequently, I think you had better take prompt steps so that the matter goes no further at the moment unless under conditions I have just indicated.3
I am enclosing a copy of a letter I dictated yesterday to Art, written before I thought over the matter of the shed. However, I believe there are some things of interest in it to you.4
With warm regard--and the hope that this time you really improve the breed5–As ever
