Box 4, Folder 5: Miscellaneous Typewritten Letters

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Milwaukee, April 14, 1873.

B.H. Edgerton, Engineer,

Dear Sir, --

Learning that you are about to make some railroad surveys of the N.E. part of the state, I take the liberty of requesting that you will make some notes of such geological information as may come to your knowledge and report the same to me on your return.

The place of outcrop and especially the boundaries of the several rock formations, whether limestone, sandstone, granite, slate, conglomerate or trap, also the position of lake beaches, drift hills &c., with reference to the section lines of the public land surveys would materially aid the geological survey by indicating places where more detailed explorations are desirable.

For such information a reasonable compensation will be made from the appropriation for the geological survey, if any is required.

Yours truly,

I.A. Lapham,

Chief Geologist.

Racine, Wis. April 16, 1873.

Dr. Lapham,

My Dear Sir, --

I congratulate you and the geological survey on the appointment by the governor. I only wish they had included a zoological survey, then it would have been complete. ***

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My daughter Jenny sends greeting and says she is so glad.

Ever yours,

P.R. Hoy.

Milwaukee, April 18, 1873.

Maj. C. B. Comstock,

Supt. Lake Survey, Detroit--

Dear Sir--

Governor Washburn having assigned to me the duty of carrying out the requirements of the law providing for a geological and topographical survey of the state of Wisconsin, it will become my duty to prepare a map of the state with as much accuracy as the material at hand will permit. It occurs to me that if the points, the geographical position of which have been determined by the Lake Survey, could be connected with the surveys of the public lands, it would at once give greater value to all those surveys. With this view it is most important to define accurately the cardinal lines of the land surveys being the "4th principal meridian" extending from Galena, Illinois, to Lake Superior near the mouth of the Montreal river, and the "correction lines," or the north line of townships 10, 20, 30, and 40. These are the governing lines, surveying with care and from which the other lines are run.

I write to ask whether such connections between the surveys have been made, or if not, whether the Lake Survey will afford any facilities for having it done; and generally whether I can avail myself of the work of the Lake Survey in securing an accurate topographical map of Wisconsin.

Yours very truly,

I.A. Lapham.

Detroit, April 19th, 1873.

I.A. Lapham,

Chief of Wis. Geol. Survey--

Dear Sir--

Your letter of the 18th of April was received.*** In reply I would state that a chain of triangles now being carried on from Green Bay by Lake Winnebago and Milwaukee to Chicago will furnish with precision the position of many points and of public buildings in their vicinity in Wisconsin; and that this information will be at any time after the completion of the work at the service of the state of Wisconsin.*** Any assistance that can be given by the Lake Survey to the Geological Survey of the State of Wisconsin will be gladly rendered.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C.B. Comstock, Maj. of Eng. & Brvt. Brg. Gen.

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Chicago Observatory, April 23, 1873.

Dr. I.A. Lapham--

Dear Sir--

Your appointment as State Geologist was in our papers some days ago and I was very glad to see it.

I mentioned to Col. Barlow, chief engineer of the Military Division of Mo. that a geological survey of Wisconsin was in contemplation, and he would be very glad to assist so far as determining the latitude and longitude is concerned. If you care to co-operate with us, I imagine that we can accomplish perfectly satisfactory work and at a comparatively small expense, to the U.S. Government, which will probably be willing to pay the expenses.***

Truly yours,

T.H. Safford.

Milwaukee, April 24, 1873.

Moses Strong, Esq.--

Dear Sir--

I have your favor of the 22nd inst. accepting the position of assistant geologist, and I shall take pleasure in recommending to the governor your appointment to that office.*** You are aware of the fact that the governor is to make the appointment and to determine the salary.***

Yours truly,

I.A. Lapham.

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Washington, D.C., April 26[28], 1873.

Maj. C.B. Comstock,

Corps of Engr, Detroit, Mich.--

Sir--

*** In compliance with the request of I.A. Lapham, chief of the Geological Survey of Wisconsin, you are authorized to assist him in preparing a map of that state, by furnishing him with the geographical position of the points upon or within the borders of the state that have been determined by the Lake Survey.***

By command of Brig. Henl. Humphreys.

Very respectfully, your ob't servant,

J.G. Foster, Lt. Col. Eng. & Bvt. Maj/Genl.

Milwaukee, April 29, 1873.

To His Excellency,

C.C. Washburn,

Dear Sir--

In the organization of the Geological Survey required by Chapter 292 of the laws of Wisconsin for 1873, it is deemed ad-

1873.

-visable to place three parties in the field during the present season; and I hereby recommend Professor Roland D. Irving, Professor T.C. Chamberlain and Mr. Moses Strong for appointment as assistants in the survey.

Very respectfully yours,

I.A. Lapham, Chief Geologist.

To His Excellency, C.C. Washburn.

Milwaukee, April 29, 1873.

W.H. Canfield--

Dear Sir--

A letter I received some days ago dated Baraboo April 20, is supposed to be from you, though without signature. In reply I will say that I have had in view your work in the geology and topography of Sauk county, and when I see you will be glad to know upon what terms you will furnish me with the results.

They could be put upon township maps 2 inches to a mile, which would show the boundary of the different rocks, the localities of the bluffs, quarries, mines, springs, &c.***

In this or some other way I shall be glad to avail myself of the important work you have done in Sauk county.

Yours truly,

I.A. Lapham.

St. Anthony's, Minn., May 2, 1873.

Dr. I.A. Lapham,

Dear Sir--

I have just heard of your appointment as Chief Geologist of the new survey in Wisconsin and I want to con