1/22/27 EC wrote: "I know Alf [Major Alfred M. Wilson] as
well as I do you. We were associated in our operations in
Texas [[
3777] series?]. He and his brother sunk five
thousand dollars in the proposition. They are relatives of
Woodrow Wilson (cousins). Alf's father for a number of years
was head of the Gov. aviation depots, or something of the
kind. Their home is Franklin, Pennsylvania. Alf was
president of The Sigma Galine Oil Co - I think was an officer
at the time it was taken over by Standard. He was in the
Quartermaster Dept. while in France and, as I said, young
Bedford was under him during that time. While I lived in New
York (the five or six months I was there, at the McAlpin
Hotel) I was with Alf nearly every day - sometime during the
day. He knows 'the work' as well as anyone, I suppose. His
brother Ed [Major Edwin G. Wilson] has conducted a number of
rdgs. - Major Edwin G. Wilson was with me for a year or more
in Texas, so you know I know them very well. You will find
Alf one of the finest men you ever met. He's a Princeton
man, and a West Pointer - has all the dignity of the army
officer, but none of the surliness that you find in so many
army men - at least the ones I've known. I am sure you will
find many, many things in common - and I feel just as sure
Alf will be able to help you with most any proposition you
want, especially towards getting in touch with the people who
are at the head of the Standard Oil. I'm sure he will
appreciate having the opportunity to meet you, and I just
know I am missing something when I can't be with you two when
you get together - for Alf's a regular fellow, and I know you
will have some good times together, as well as some real
business together. I wish you'd tell him to drop me a line.
We corresponded for a number of years, but have gradually
gotten out of it in the last two or three. Tell him for me,
will you, that I say don't count on it but I am having
another hole drilled on Rocky Pasture [[
4905] series]. I'm
sure he will know what that means. As you know, perhaps,
this is where we tried to drill the oil well that our money
gave out on before we got through. Alf knows the oil is
there, for he was down there himself - he knows I just wasn't
equal to handling the men who were associated with it.
Somehow, I believe this is the right sort of connection for
you for what you want to do - I don't know why I didn't think
of it before. I certainly do wish that I could be with you -
we have been on SOME parties together. He knows how to put
'em on! But that's that. I hope you get in touch with him
and everything works out alright. I'm sure it will."
[Major Alfred M. Wilson, Army Bldg., 39 Whitehall St.,
N.Y.C.]
1/24/27 Mr. [
195] wrote: "Thanks for the letter of
introduction to Major A. M. Wilson. I will most certainly
call on him real soon. I expect to get East in about two
weeks, and will endeavor to get in contact with him."
3/12/27 He wrote from N.Y.: "Major Wilson very kindly
arranged a meeting for me with Mr. Bedford. It may lead
up to some business. I am to see Major Wilson again. He
is quite a fellow and I enjoyed meeting him."