Box 4, Folder 4: Typewritten Letters 1871-1875

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which package is the garment wanted. The weather is very favorable for the unsheltered. Free provisions wagons in all parts of the outskirts of fire district, but one family (Mahlon D. Ogden) now living north of Chicago main river to North Ave (at South end of the old cemetery) just north of where I lived.***

Yesterday commenced bringing corpses from the ruins, most of them unrecognized.*** Your friend, Assistant Eng. Clarke, I saw in his buggy (without hat) loaded with books rushing into Lincoln Park, the powerful wind blowing his books out behind and fire following.

I am writing on the bottom of a drawer, no ink convenient to find. Will you do me [the] a favor as soon as you can? I am out of funds.*** I want two hundred dollars.

$15 in $5.00 bills-$75.00 100. in $1's and 2's-100 Bal. in fractional currency 10 cts. and 25 cts/25.00 $200.00

Small change quite scarce. I am owing $50.00 for drayage and help.***

Enclosed is my check on the Chicago Marine Co. for $200.***

Yesterday I took out my valuable papers from Bryant's Fidelity Depository, all safe and in good order.***

Yours brother,

Sam'l Stone.

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1871.

Milwaukee Oct. 14, 1871.

Dear Brother,--

The telegram came none too soon, for it was published here at the same time that "old Col. Stone and his wife" were suffocated at the Historical Society Rooms: Of course we supposed the wife meant sister Sarah.

Perhaps the fifty dollars I send with this will keep you in pin money until the Marine Bank is ready to hand over.

We had dispatches every hour during the great conflagration--greatest ever known--and I will send the Weekly Sentinel with a full account of it.

We all rejoice that it is no worse with you. Your second letter just received. Will send the rest of the money on Monday.

Very truly yours,

I.A. Lapham.

Col. Sam'l Stone.

John Draper spent Friday in Chicago looking for you. Mr. T.S. Johns writes from Georgetown D.C. about you and Elizabeth. I have a very kind letter from Rev. C.B. Stout regretting your death and Elizabeth's. Quite a number of persons have called to know the truth of the report. You must have had a very narrow escape.***

All well. Yours truly,

I.A. Lapham.

Col. Sam'l Stone.

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Madison Oct. 22nd, 1871.

Dr. I.A. Lapham,

Sir--

I have lately been making a study of the Devil's Lake quartzite region.***

As far as I can ascertain you are probably the one who knows most about the place, I therefore take the liberty of appeal

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-ing to you for information? I am especially anxious to find a junction between the Potsdam sandstone and the Quartzite. I would like very much to have your opinion in regard to the age of the rocks.**

I remain, Sir, yours &c.

Roland Irving.

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University of Wisconsin Madison Oct. 26, 1871.

My dear Sir,-

Your reply reached me a day or two since, I hope to be able to accept your invitation on the morning of Saturday.*** Accept my thanks for your kindness.

You seem to imitate that I asked you to write down "all you know about the place". I do not think I could have made such a wild request as that.

I am, Sir,

Yours sincerely,

Roland Irving.

Dr. I.A. Lapham.

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Madison Wisconsin. Nov. 18, 1871.

My dear Sir,--

I have made another visit to Devil's Lake and have succeeded beyond all my hopes in obtaining evidence which to my mind places beyond all question the antiquity of the quartzite and schists.*** My present object in writing you is to get some more information from you.***

If I am imposing on your kindness, say so, but I am really

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anxious to put my results together so as to make them worth something.***

I am, sir, yours sincerely,

Roland Irving.

Dr. I.A. Lapham.

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Milwaukee Dec. 1st, 1871.

Gen. C.B. Comstock, Supt. Lake Survey Detroit, Mich.

Dear Sir,-

Having made meteorological observations for half a life time I begin to think that I have done my full share of such work especially as others are doing the same thing, and must beg that I may after the 1st of Jan'y next be allowed to send you monthly a copy of the very careful observations, made here, under favorable circumstances, with the same kind of instruments, for the Signal Service. Being taken at the same hours, they will make no break in your regular series.

Hoping you will consent to this modification of my duties. I remain,

Yours truly,

I.A. Lapham.

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Milwaukee Dec. 1st, 1871.

Gen'l C.B. Comstock,

Dear Sir,-

At the request of the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, who has been directed to collect information needed in reference to a telegraphic cable across Lake Michigan between this city and Grand Haven, I respectfully ask that you will furnish a copy of the soundings which it is understood have now been made at

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or near that line, showing the depth of the water and the character of the bottom found.

Yours truly,

I.A. Lapham.

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Milwaukee Dec. 6th, 1871.

Surgeon Gen'l U.S.

Sir,--

According to the recollection of the venerable Col. Sam'l Stone (now 72 years of age) of Chicago, the year 1819 must have been one of great fires in the north west, similar to those of the present year. The smoke was so dense at Detroit that artificial light was required all day on the 9th of November, and on that day in Green Bay Capt. Blake was compelled to cast anchor, ten miles of so from Fort Howard, and awauit clear weather before he could get into the river. The darkness continued two or three days and extended to Mackinac and western N. York. The autumn had been dry, cattle had to be driven often a great distance for water, and the rivers were low. This darkness could only result from burning prairies and forests, there were then no towns or cities in this region to be burned:

I take the liberty of requesting that you will examine the original returns from Fort Howard, Fort Snelling and other stations at the northwest for that year and see whether there is anything in them to confirm this recollection of my friend Col. Stone.

I have your published meteorological reports from 1822 down to 1859 and would like to be supplied with any that may have been published for subsequent years?

Very respectfully yours,

I.A. Lapham.