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Written at Hadley Field
New Brunswick N.J.
April 4th 33

Dear Billy:
Another rainy day--and how many of them we have had in the past month!--and the rotten news about the blowup or crackup of the "Akron" is coming in over the radio. These gas bags are not so hot. I've in and around them and have flown the smaller ones and don't think much of them: Dad as with me at Langley Field VA when the Rome[[?]] blew up and he sasid it had blown up when he heard the dull boom. I doubted it at the moment as we walked back from its take-off after haveing [[having]] been shoen [[shown]] all through it by the Commanding officer Thornel and the navigating officer Mabry who were aming [[among]] those killed..ever since the gas bags have been n g as far as I'm concerned--but this Akron is the worst in history.

Just after starting this I was called to N.YLand I learned the sad news that the Laboratories is going to cut perseonnel [[personnel]] 25% again. It is Hell to be living from day to day wondering if you are going out on your ear. I've given 5 of my best years to this racketdoing[[racket doing]] dangerous work without the same adequate insurance they give people who may fly with me--and I've built up absolutely nothing. And at my age there isn't anything I know to turn to. Well the blow is to fall soon and it looks as though my organization here will be shot no matter who they let go this time. And next time it will either be a cut in pay or some more or a complet[[complete]] washout of this branch. My heart is certainly heavy. 

The receipt is enclosed along with my check and thanks for the Elks dues you must have paid for me,(If it keeps on I will have to drop that). In the matter of the special agreement and the receipts--that is a fine idea and come to think of it it should work all right to avoid a tax--which is corect[[correct]] no m matter how you look at it. 

I hope you all can put out beer over the old bar. Good luck. But how much profit is there going to be in that alone? Especially when they want it at5¢[[at 5¢]] and all the taxes the various taxing authorities count upon? 

Clever move too on the funds in the National bank. 

Anything more on the market? Today the radio told me about a rise in sugar. Nuts! I had some So Porto at 11 that I had to let go of at 5 and now the damned stuff is 23. Nuts!

I am blue!!

However, best regards and Prosit. 

Your brother,
Ray