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I'm not sure why you're putting 5 minutes per letter in there. I'm sure he's a well-read guy. It's not crazy to think he could get through a one page letter in a minute or less.

Some people receive responses, so if he wrote them himself you need to factor that in as well.

FTA - he sent notes back in the margins for responses, and only occasionally wrote letters back personally.

I learned long ago that what I do, or do not believe is achievable, is not applicable to 99.99999% of the general population.

The article has sample letters, they don't seem overly long. Maybe figure 3 minutes average? So closer to 30?

Don't see any reason we should doubt it considering the apparatus that was in place to make sure he could and it was a stated goal.