[letterhead]May 15, 1891.My dear Mr. Muir,I feel that I owe you some explanation as to my apparent apathy in regard to the proposed Sierra Club. I have by no means given up the idea and have done a little looking towards organization. A short time after I had the talk with you, however, it was intimated to me that it might be possible for me to secure a leave of absence from the University and spend two years in study in Europe. Under these circumstances, as it seemed probable that I could take but little part in the organization of the club, I deemed it wise to take no further action until my affairs were more definitely settled. At the meeting of the Board of Regents on Tuesday the question was settled for me by that body’s denying my request. I am therefore ready to do anything that you think will assure the success of our plans. I have spoken to a number of persons and feel sure that, if our dues are not made too high, we can open with a membership of twenty or twenty-five, enough for a nucleus. I have corresponded with the officers of the Alpine Club of Portland, and they will do all in their power to help us. I write now mainly to ask whether you think it would be better to call a meeting at once, or whether you consider it more advisable to wait until after the summer vacation, meanwhile interesting as many persons as possible in the idea. I send you in this mail a little work that I have lately reprinted. I hope that you will like it.Yours very sincerely,Wm. Dallam Armes
