This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/1/2026
Adolphus Busch typed letter signed with a handwritten postscript, writing to his son Augustus Busch Sr. about Anheuser-Busch, specifically their star product, Budweiser beer. Dated 10 March 1905 on Busch's personal stationery, lengthy letter reads in small part,
''I have your charming letter of the Fifth, which I read over and over again, and so did Mama...You really did a herculean piece of work, passing the bill unanimously in the Council! And without doing one thing which could ever compromise you. I hope you will be equally as successful in the House...I feel it will do Anheuser-Busch much good if I visit the State of Oregon and Washington; it will add a good deal to our popularity; moreover, I wish to learn more about hop culture...
I believe we are going to have an over-production of hops again and very low prices, fabulously low. If we get a big crop in this country and Europe, you will see a ten cent price rule. I am no longer a Bull, I have become convinced that in the hop market it is better to be a bear. Of course, if you want the finest quality, and this is what we must have, we have to buy when the hops are offered in market - we cannot wait, but with heavy crops, the market will open with low prices and a downward tendency...''
Busch then compares their investments from real estate vs. the brewery, ''...Our whole welfare and happiness does not depend on that Second Street Railroad, it depends solely and only upon the success of our brewery; its earnings are sufficient to make us happy for all time to come, and give us sufficient to live well, so nurse the child which we love most and which is nearest and dearest to us. Of course, if we can get the Franchise, we will make all we can out of it; we are great at taking...''
Busch then writes of St. Louis Mayor Rolla Wells who, despite being a Democrat, Busch supports: ''Now in regard to our good friend, Mayor Wells, I will say this, that although I am a Republican, I shall support him with all the influence and power I have. I consider him of the best Mayors Saint Louis ever had...It is a downright shame and an outrage that the Globe Democrat came out as it did and published such a miserable and contemptible article against him. If I could punish the guilty ones, they would never again cause trouble; they would receive such a damp seat on the clouds that they would suffer eternally from Rheumatism and kindred ailments...''
Busch then devotes several paragraphs to the brewery's star product, Budweiser beer. He writes in part, ''Referring again to the extreme effervescence of the Budweiser, this is really more in the imagination than in realty [sic]; you are really giving it too much importance. Our process of brewing is all right - do not make any change in that; the fermentation of the beer and the storing is correct also, and I know this foaming will disappear as it came; that will be the natural outcome of this whole scare. I haven't much faith in your cork story; I know, of course, that there is a little juice in the cork which does not do the beer any good, but it does not harm either. If it did, then why isn't all our beer alike - why are there only a few bottles in a million which are affected?...I still contend that the beer which showed so much foam is too young; it is not ripe enough for bottling purposes, which is proven by the fact that every bottle which has too much foam is also a little cloudy. I do not think we are making any mistake in our steaming process, so that some bottles would not get steam enough...'' With much more content regarding the manufacture of Budweiser.
Busch ends the letter with a postscript about his new chauffeur, a young man who he doesn't think is up for the job, although ''I would not like to do the boy any harm.'' He handwrites an update, ''The Chauffeur did better today, was more familiar in handling the machine...I believe he will improve & get more acquainted with the many details of the running gear, he never before operated a large [?], only little ones.'' Boldly signed ''Adolphus Busch'' at conclusion.
Letter on seven separate sheets measures 8.5'' x 11''. Staple punctures at upper left and shallow folds. Overall near fine condition.