Box 3, Folder 3: Typewritten Letters 1840-1844

449 [431] 1840.

We coasted along the west shore of the lake towards the south, keeping two or three miles off to avoid any danger from shallow water, though I believe deep water begins very near the shore.

Two hours brought us to the little town of Racine at the mouth of Root River, where there are some fifty houses on the very margin of the Lake, including one large three story tavern and a fine new court house with columns in front.

In front of the town some two or three miles in the lake are rocks which appear within a few feet of the surface of the lake, they are so deep as not to arrest in any considerable degree the force of the breakers, which fall on the shore with their usual force, and as the rocks are concealed below the water they are dangerous to navigation.

Notwithstanding all this it has just been discovered by Capt. C., U.S. Top'g Eng. that Racine is protected by a natural breakwater! and this is an argument in favor of the place! Until very recently the citizens denied the existence of this reef. How far personal interest will sometimes influence a public officer in making his reports!

I guess you will have to let me say good night and leave the rest of the journey for a future letter. ***

Your brother,

Increase.

D. Lapham.

New York, Aug. 26th, 1840.

Dear Sir:--

About a fortnight since on my return from the country I found a very acceptable parcel from you containing some plants

450 [432] 1840.

of which I should be glad to secure a further supply of specimens, your plants are in a beautiful state. ***

Pray, dear sir, continue to explore the interesting region about you and let me have specimens of your rare and new things. *** Dr. Gray and I are working hard at Compositae &c. Send us good specimens (with radical leaves) of all your asters and solidagos as well as all your other compositae except the commonest species.

I am, dear Sir, Yours truly,

John Torrey.

I.A. Lapham.

Columbus O. Oct. 12th, 1840.

I.A. Lapham, Esq.

My Dear Sir,--

Two or three days since I receive by Mr. Thayer a letter and packet of plants from you. The plants were in good order and very acceptable, many of them were new to me and quite interesting.

I have had a parcel of near two hundred plants done up since last spring but could find no direct opportunity of sending them. About three weeks since I sent them by the Captain of a canal boat to Winslow & Co. of Cleveland O. to be forwarded to you. The parcel was well secured by wrappers, sealed and directed to you I hope by this time it has reached you. ***

I see we differ as to the names of some of your plants. I will remark on them and trust you will do the same by mine. ***

I shall always be very happy to exchange specimens and correspond with you.

Yours truly,

Wm. S. Sullivant.

451 [433] 1840.

Milwaukee, Nov. 2nd, 1840.

Dear Brother,--

Your regular of the 11th ult. came to hand a few days since being principally devoted to politics, a subject upon which every tongue and pen in the United States now dwells without ceasing.

You may resolve the doubt you are in as to which of us wrote the last letter by reference to your file. If you find a letter containing the first chapter of a journey from Milwaukee to-----that's my last and it remains unanswered to this day, notwithstanding your political letter.

As your favors were appearing very regularly every month I had planned out a narrative of a small journey, which I had taken intending to make it the subject of about four letters, but it is now so long since it was made and as I took no notes, the subject has in some measure lost interest with me?***

The principal subjects I intended to discuss were--"The general appearance of the country, the towns, farms, &c., evidence that Lake Michigan is about twenty feet higher than formerly, evidence that it is considerably lower, evidence that it is gradually encroaching on Wisconsin and adding sand hills to Michigan, evidence that it once discharged its waters through the valley of the Illinois into the Mississippi, the piers at Chicago, how far they will have to be extended into the lake before they will secure a good harbor, which is about twelve miles! Chicago, its commercial advantages compared with Milwaukee; the wet prairies around Chicago; the Illinois and Michigan canal, its dimensions, progress, probable time of completion; Lockport, on the Des Plaines; deep rock excavations; new and interesting plants, new variety of water lime; a

452 [434] 1840.

visit to your old friend Gooding, his family, his health (not the best) &c. These with many others which I do not now recollect were to be incorporated into the narrative of the journey. It is not yet too late to write on some of the more important and interesting topics, and you may select from the above list such as will interest you and I will endeavor to brighten up my ideas sufficiently to give you an essay on them.

Mr. Kilbourne has been compelled to leave us on account of his arm, which has been affected with "rheumatics" and is now so bad as to render surgical aid necessary. All the affairs of the canal and of the town have thus devolved upon me, as all the work of it, has already done.

There is now about a mile under contract and the work is progressing rapidly. The work is mostly embankment running in front of a steep bluff and occupying a portion of the river. A protection [projection?] is made where it is in the river, throwing stone into the water until the top appears at the surface thus preventing the bank from moving and the earth from being carried away by the current. The depth of water in the canal is five feet. Banks eight feet high. Bottom 26 feet wide. Slopes 1 3/4 to 1. At the head of this work's to be a dam across the Milwaukee river 18 feet high (raising the water 12 feet). ***

We hope to complete the work next year so as to have valuable hydraulic privileges in the United States within the town of Milwaukee!!

I shall write a letter today to father and mother requesting them to come here and spend the winter. I find it impossible to go there with my family at present. I think there will

454 [435] 1840.

be force left at home to take care of the new house without them, Besides they have worked long enough, let them have a play spell now. All's well. I am your affectionate brother,

I.A. Lapham.

D. Lapham.

Milwaukee Nov. 2nd, 1840.

Dear father and mother,--

***Mr. Kilbourne has been obliged to leave us on account of the "rheumatics" in his arm, which has become so bad that we began to be apprehensive of his life. Consequently all the affairs of the town as well as the canal are thrown upon me. The canal is now partially in progress of construction and requires my attention every day and probably will for the next six months.

You see then, that it is impossible for me to leave long enough to make you a visit as I intended this winter. I have thereupon concluded that you must come and spend the winter with me. You want some change by this time having now been on the farm ten years or more, and what better could you have than a journey to Wisconsin where you would be received with open arms by a son and daughter! This being the stray sheep of the fold, there will be more rejoicing at such meeting than over many others that "went not astray." I should suppose that the rest of the family would be able to take care of the new house for one season and let you have a play spell.

In order to defray the expense of such a journey I have purchased a draft on New York, which you will find above, for fifty dollars, it cost me one dollar over the face of it, but I suppose you can sell it for the same, so there will be no loss sustained.

I have this day sold out William's and Hannah's tax certificates that were enjoined so that they are clear from the