Box 3, Folder 6: Typewritten Letters, 1849-1851

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last, written at Syracuse, because I did not stay there as long as I expected, a breach of promise for which I hope you will not commence suit; I thought you would prefer a letter dated at the capital of the nation, at the city named in honor of the "Father of his Country." I have been here since yesterday morning, at Willard's Hotel, where they breakfast at eight and dine at half past three.

I have been the rounds, have seen the president's house, (not the president; he is an invalid) the capitol, the patent office the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, the Observatory (where I had a peep through the large telescope at Saturn and also at a nebula) and many other places of interest.

I deposited copies of the Map of Wisconsin in the Library of Congress and also in the Smithsonian Institution so as to secure a copy right.

I have seen many of the great men here but several I wanted most to see are absent.

The weather is very hot [here], so that it is rather uncomfortable moving about.*** From Syracuse I could get no seat in the cars, was obliged to stand up and such was the crowd on the Hudson I could get no berth or state room, was obliged to sleep on the floor of the cabin the best way I could.*** I shall go tomorrow morning at three o' clock to Loesborough and then home by way of Wheeling. Shall cross the Alleghany Mountains in a stage, and shall see "our folks" again on my way. They are to put up for me a trunk full of matters and things so that I can bring them with me to Milwaukee.***

Your affectionate husband,

I.A. Lapham.

Ann M. Lapham.

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Sept. 20. Went to Leesburgh by stage. The conglomerate crops out here. Returned to Alexandria, settled accounts with Col. McCarty and returned at night of the 22nd to Washington.

Sept. 23. Left Washington at 6 A.M. by the B & O Railroad. Dined at Harper's Ferry. Took stage at Columbus, rode all night.***

Sept. 28.*** Took cars at W. Liberty for Sandusky.

Sept. 29. Steamer "Albion" for Detroit 9 A.M. Arrived in Detroit 6 P.M. Left Detroit per Central R.R. went to Marshall 110 miles in 11 hours, only 10 miles per hour:

Oct. 1. Got on board the "Sam Ward" at New Buffalo 9 1/2 A.M. Entered Milwaukee Harbor in severe gale. Landed in safety and soon found my way through wind and rain to the little spot I call "my own."

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Dear Sir,--

I obtained from Mr. Sullivant some beautiful specimens of rare plants from you. So I ever wished to enter in correspondence to you.

Be so kind to tell me if you would like to enter in such correspondence to me.***

I'll forward you a collection, hoping you will directly after send me a similar quantity of plants.*** Let me also kindly know by what way you like to obtain my collection. My commissioneriis [commissioners?] Mr. Rodney at Hamburgh.

Believe me, my dear sir, yours truly,

H.G. Reichenbach.

Germany, Dresden, 21st. Sept. 1849.

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Green Bay Oct. 6th, 1849...............

I.A. Lapham, Esq. Milwaukee,

Dear Sir,--

When I passed down the lake I had not time as I expected to have had, to make you a call. I have been detained here so long by bad weather and the difficulty of procuring voyageurs that I shall probably have no time to spare on my return from the Oconto and Wolf rivers.****

I find the red clay drift all the way from Sheboygan to this place but have no fossils to determine its age and character whether marine or fresh water. The bricks made from it assume the color of yours at Milwaukee when hard burnt, otherwise retain the red color.

Has this clay been analyzed? Have any fossils been found?*** I should like to be able with your assistance to discuss the drift of Eastern Wisconsin in my Report and of course shall give you credit for such facts as you furnish.***

Yours very respectfully,

Chas. Whitt*esey.

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Sherman House, Chicago Ioth Oct. 1849.

My Dear Sir,--

After all the interesting things that I have seen with you and heard from you I cannot withhold communicating to you an observation which I made since I landed here. In walking along the banks east of the city,*** being composed of blue clay at the base, with several layers of sand and clayey sand above, I noticed many fossils throughout the whole, but especially at the limit of

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the clay and sand. The fossils are all living species.***The sands as those in our clay in the lake. Besides there are to be seen at the limit of both strata (clay and sand) many trunks and branches of trees,*** one measuring 1 1/2 feet in diameter. I saw also many cylindrical bodies,*** similar to those you showed me in Milwaukee and I should not wonder if they turned out to be same kind of cane.***

My best thanks again for all the friendship you have shown me. I shall be happy if I can do something that might be agreeable to you.

Yours sincerely,

E.[DeSoto?]

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Milwaukee Oct. 12th, 1849...

Dear Sir,--

Your esteemed favor of the 6th inst. was received last evening. It would afford me great pleasure to aid you as requested in your investigations respecting the geology of Wisconsin.

The drift is probably fresh water rock. I have found no fossils that were clearly contemporaneous with it. The Appleton un-decayed timber you will probably find has been accidentally involved in the drift by some recent event. We have here the Corniferous and Geodiferous or Niagara Limestone of the New York geologicals pretty well identified, also an even bedded gray or bluish limestone with large orthocera, which I suppose may be equivalent to the "Blue Limestone." Farther west the "Calciferous" or Lower Magnesian is found. At one place a granitic or quartzose rock is protruded through it without appearing to produce any marked change.

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There appears to be an axis along Rock river from which the strata has a general dip in each direction.

I have a large amount of manuscript notes and memoranda relating to the geology of South-eastern Wisconsin, also profiles, diagrams, drawings of fossils, &c. and would be glad of an opportunity of presenting them to the public. It would require some considerable time to prepare them, and to do the subject justice I should want to visit some portions of the state not yet examined.

The mouth of the Wisconsin according to Nicolet's Barometrical Observations is 64 feet above Lake Michigan. The figures in my work of 1844 were a mere estimate as is there stated.

In the 2nd Ed. (1846) Nicolet is followed.

Our Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad survey will soon be extended across the state when we shall know the exact height of the Mississippi.

Can you not make Milwaukee a point on your return to Cleveland? I should be happy to show you my collections &c.

Very truly yours,

I.A. Lapham.

Chas. Whittlesey,

U.S. Geological Survey.

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Ogdensburgh Nov. 22nd, 1849......

I.A. Lapham.

Dear Sir,--

Yours of the 15th inst. was duly received. The box came to hand a few days since and I am very much pleased with its contents, they are new, most of the specimens, and add to my variety much.***

I consider your book invaluable as a history of the growing west. And when a Geological survey is made (which I suppose