Box 4, Folder 2: Typewritten Letters 1860-1865

[Handwritten inscription in pencil, u.r.: 1001; handwritten inscription in black ink, u.c.: Chapter X // 1860] -1164- / 1860. Jan'y 1 Commenced a full series of meteorological observations barometer, thermometer attached, psychrometer, self registering thermometers (maximum and Minimum) anemograph, snow gauge, rain gauge [gauge] and tide gauge [gauge]

[align center] ---------- [align right] Milwaukee Jan'y 2nd,1860. [align left] Capt. Geo.G.Meade,

Detroit, Mich.

Dear Sir,--

With this please find meteorological observations for December 1859 made as pr [per] arrangement while you were here, by Dr. Winkler and myself.

You will see that I take the water level three times daily, which I presume is all that will be required during the winter. The figures show the depth below a point 5 feet above our zero of grades and corresponding with the box gauge [gauge] put up at the foot of Poplar street.

Agreeably to the request in your last letter, I have now commenced making full observations with your instruments * * * *

You will find also a copy of all the observations [the observations] made here on the level of the water from 1836 to 1859 sent in compliance with your request when here last summer. They have cost me much time and labor and I hope they will be useful to you. * * * *

[align right] Yours respectfully,

I.A.Lapham

[align center] --------

[Handwritten inscription in pencil, u.r.: 1002; handwritten inscription in pencil, u.l.: 231] -1165- / 1860.

[align center] Milwaukee March 5th, 1860 [align left] Dear Brother, --

* * * We think of getting up a sort of scientific association here and if we do we shall call upon some of our Chicago friends for help in the way of exchanges. &c [crossed out]

You will find inside "The Mastodon" what to do with it, perhaps you may not be aware of the importance discovery [the important discovery] made by me and described in that work. * * * (2nd edition "Mastodon Gigantens").

Please say to Dr.Scammon that I had so few duplicates of Solidagos and asters that I could not spare him a suit [suit], if he will send me his doubtful plants I will endeavor to name them for him. * * *

Yours truly, Col. Sam'l Stone. / I.A.Lapham.

[align center] ---------------- Madison Wis . April 6th, 1860.

[align left] Mr. I. A. Lapham,-

Dear Sir,-

I enclose you a letter [a letter] from Mr. A. Morse upon an antiquarian subject which you can best tell about of any one in our state. * * * If convenient please send me a copy of your reply that I may read it before our society at our May meeting, * * * *

Some time since I sent a sketch of you to the ed'rs of the New Am. Cyclopedia,and presume ut [it] will appear int he proper volume. / yours truly, [align center] Lyman C. draper. ------------

[Handwritten inscription in pencil, u.r.: 1003; illegible inscription at u.l.]

-1166- / 1860. May 18 Went to Chicago on the 5 1/2 A.M. train, attended the great National Convention at which Abraham Lincoln was nominated for President.

[align center] ---------

[align right] Dubuque May 30 1860.

[align left] To I.A.Lapham,

Dear Sir,-

Please note the following observations of my barometer during the fall of the column of mercury on the 26th inst.

25th, 7 A.M. 29.295 reduced to 32 2 P.M. .228 9 P.M. .089 26th 7 A. M. 28.820 12 M. .690 2 P.M. .702 3.30 P.M. .677 4.30 P.M. .644 6.20 P.M. .678 9 P.M. .859 27th 7 A.M. 29.242

My son made the observation 2 p.m. on the 26th and possibly read the scale incorrectly.

The wind on the 26th at 7 A.M. was S.1" at 2 P.M. S.W.5' at 9 P.M. N.7 and at 7 A.M. on the 27th at N.2. We had a violent thunder shower beginning on the 25th at 11.30 P.M. and ending at 0.30 A.M. the 26th, during which several electrical discharges occured upon the bluffs near the city.

[align right] Respectfully,

Asa Horr.

-----------

[Handwritten inscription in pencil, u.r.: 1004; illegible handwritten inscription, u.l.] -1167- / 1860.

[align right] Milwaukee June 21,1860.

Col. Sam'l Stone,

Dear Brother,--

I have yours of the 18th inst. * * * I have now accepted an appointment as Secretary of the Wisconsin Agricultural and Mechanical Association with a salary, which may [underlined] turn out well and enable me to get along without sacrificing the land near Chicago. I hope so.

The water was soon removed from my basement and we apprehend no evil consequences. I have built a dyke [underlined] or levee [underlined] about the house which will prevent the recurrence of such a disaster. I shall try to make the corporation pay at least a share of the damages they have caused [with handwritten edits] me by its [crossed out] a ["a" handwritten] defective drainage system. All well and send love and regards,

[align right] yours truly,

I.A.Lapham.

[align center] ------- July 2 At 3/15 P.M. left Milwaukee with Dr. E.B. Wolcott to visit Fair Grounds at St. Louis, supped with Col. Stone in Chicago. At 9 p.m. left Chicago for St Louis. July 3 Arrived 10 A.M. opposite St. Louis, drove to Fair Grounds in the afternoon. Spent tow days with Sec'y ["&c. &c." crossed out]. Left for home at 5 P.M. of the 5th, stopped for the night at Springfield. July 6 Remained at Springfield until 11 A.M. Visited Abraham Lincoln, the Agr.Soc. State Geologist's rooms ["&c. &c." crossed out], other interesting places[align center] -------- [align right] Office Survey of N & N.W. Lakes, Detroit July 3rd, 1860 [align left] I.A.Lapham, Milwaukee

Dear Sir,-

[Handwritten inscription in pencil, u.r.: 1005; illegible handwritten inscription in pencil, u.l.]

-1168- / 1860.

* * * Accept my thanks for your polite attention in sending me the His. Soc. Vol., which I received with your package early in June.

Have you Col. Graham's report for last year and his water level observations? I was surprised to find he thinks he is the first to have discovered the Lake Michigan tide. It is rather extraordinary that the quantity he fives in 1859,for the rise and fall is so close to yours determined ten years previously. * * *

[align right] Respectfully yours,

Geo. T.Meade. Capt. Top. Eng.

---------