p.1

Columbus O. April 12th/65

I. A. Lapham Eng

D Sir Your favor of 7th int is received.
From your drawings, it is apparent that both form of
fossil plants represented under the name of [Segellava ichtyolupus?]
Corde & [Sigillaus Menardi Bryl?], belong to the same species
most probably to [J. Menardi?]. This is a very common and
also variable species of our coal [?], predominant especial
ly from coal N. 3 upwards to the top of the [measure?]. The
fluting of the surface is not a valuable specific character
as this is sometimes marked on part of specimens where
another part has no trace of ribs. - Of course I can not
discuss the identity of the specimens which I have not
examined.

From lithological and stratographical character,
the coal of which you speak in Lewington Co is the same
as the coal of Lasalle reached there by a shaft 17.5 feet
deep. I have returned a few weeks ago from Springfield
where I have reexamined all the data, and finished my report on
the Illinois coal fields and prepared it for publication.
Speaking of the general direction of the dip and of its uni
formity in the whole extent of the coal measures of Illinois, I say in
this report: That the [?] and essential are of the
Coal [?] of Indiana and Illinois passes from Lasalle
in a direct line to Graysville on the South course of Wabash
[?]. Hence Coal N. 11 which at Lasalle is reached at about
175 feet from the surface and also coal 9 which is about