Box 11, Folder 5: Correspondence January-April 1873

[Col. J. W. Foster]

Chicago, 10th March, [1873]

My dear Sir:

I thank you for your readiness in furnishing [illegible] information in your last.

At our meeting last night with your collection, [illegible] and what I gathered from other sources. I was enabled to present a very interesting series of the relics of the mound builders. We find that we can duplicate all these things in copper, so that when we give [illegible] the antique rust, they are equal to the original, & if you have 220 objections, we will put your [illegible] through the) same process.

I am living [illegible] on 12 ^st^ by the Lake Shore, & shall be happy

[Left Page] to see you whenever you are in the city. I have been engaged during the past winter in getting out a work on the physical geography of the Mississippi Valley, including the region of the great lakes. This comprises the topography, origin of the Prairies, geog. range of forests, plants &c, geology & mineral resources, progress of development, & the climactic influence on [illegible]. The Vol. will comprise about 500 pp. [illegible] & in typographical execution, will be the most artistic book ever published west of the Alleghenies.

I wish I could have submitted the proof sheets to you, for I doubt not that from your very long residence & extensive observation

[Right Page] this region, you could have corrected some errors & have suggested some important additions. I will, however, find you a copy, with the hope that you will make your corrections, so that if its ever to a second edition, I may have the benefit of them.

Living so near together, we ought to see more of one another, but I have been at Milwaukee but once since I took up my residence in Chicago, and then I remained but a few hours.

Yours truly

J. W. Foster

I. A. Lapham, LL. D. Milwaukee

Milwaukee Mar. 10, 1873

Dr Sir

I shall not fail to recommend ^to^ whoever the Governor may appoint to take charge of the Geol. Survey ^(should one be ordered)^ to secure your services if possible in any exploration in the north east part of the state.

I doubt whether anything can be done, however, before the first of May.

With pleasant remembrances of our Menomonee Explorations

I remain

Yours truly I. A. Lapham

Tho Breen Esq.

Waterville Mar 11/73

I. A. Lapham Milwaukee

Dr Sir

Your favor of the 8th Inst. was rec’d the eggs came to hand yesterday P.M.

They were not in as good order at the first lot having taken out 350 dead ones from the [illegible].

They seemed illegible] to be too dry which I think could be accounted for by they're being packed in ton [illegible] instead of sawdust.

The first lot are doing nicely, [illegible] taken out only 26 dead ones from them [illegible].

I paid 3.10 for the telegram from O’Connor we [illegible] chg you the bal 1.10

Should you hear from Mr. Atkins in regard to the shipment of the balance of the salmon eggs please advise me.

Mr. Parks writes me that our bill passed the Assembly by a vote of 83 to 7 I have no fears of it in the Senate but will write Mr. Blair our Senator in regard to it.

H. F. Dousman

H. F. Dousman March 11 1873