p.1

Washington, D. C.
May 13, 1865

Dear Sir,

Your letter of March 31st 1865
addressed to Professor Bache, asking for elevations
of Stations on the Toledo & Peoria Railroad, has
been referred to me by the Assistant in charge of
the Coast Survey Office, in the absence of Professor
Bache, who is in Europe for the benefit of his
health. I must beg, sincerely, pardon for
the delay in reply, your lettering having come upon
me in the midst of our great annual mail
[lettups?] & during the late melancholy events here
and was unfortunately mislaid. I left the
Coast Survey two years ago for my present
responsible position in the D. C. Dept. but have
continued the collection of data for altitudes.

I immediately referred to the [?] notes
but find that they do not include any Stations
or points on that railroad westward of
Middleport, Ill, 42 miles east of Fairburgh,
where you most desire the altitude. On the other
side of this I give you the altitudes from [In?]
[bark's? notes [?] to sea level, from his [data?]