CRESTON, IOWA. MAR. 9 TH 86.

PROF. S. B. BAIRD,

MY DEAR SIR;

THE SPECIMENS PROMISED WILL BE SENT TOMORROW. BUSINESS HAS
PREVENTED AN EARLIER SHIPMENT. HOPE THEY WILL COMPENSATE FOR THE
DELAY.

I AM ONE OF SEVERAL GEOLOGISTS WHO, AS SOON AS SPRING OPENS, ARE
GOING BY WAGON TO THE LAKE REGION OF NORTHERN IOWA UPON A PRIVATE
SURVEYING EXPEDITION,

THE ROUTE AS PLANNED, IS BY WAY OF THE CRETACEOUS DEPOSITS IN
GUTHRIE CO. AND BY THE CELEBRATED WALLED LAKES OF THE HAMILTON GROUPE
SHOALS, OF CERRO GORDO, FLOYD AND WORTH COUNTIES. IT IS OUR INTENTION TO
INVESTIGATE NUMEROUS FOSSIL BEDS IN ADAIR CO, HITHERTO ENTIRELY
UNEXPLORED AND SAID TO BE RICH IN VERTEBRATE REMAINS, THIS INFORMATION
IS OBTAINED FROM THE NATIVES OF THE REGION WHO TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE
DISCOVERED MANY LARGE BONES IN THE PEAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO WORK THE
BEDS FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES, WHY IT IS NOT GENERALLY KNOWN THAT THE BEDS
ARE SO RICHLY PROMISING I AM UNABLE TO SAY.

IF THEY ARE AS REPORTED I SHALL CERTAINLY SEND AN ACCOUNT TO THE
INSTITUTION, WITH THE EXPECTATION OF HAVING THE MATTER LOOKED INTO BY
COMPETENT MEN FULLY QUALIFIED TMENTALLY AND FINANCIALLY TO PUSH THE
THING. SOME MONEY MUST NECESSARILY BE EXPENDED IN CONSTRUCTING A SERIES
OF DRAINS, AS THE BOG IS IN A BASIN BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE SURROUND-
ING COUNTRY. I HAVE SEEN VERY FEW OF THE SPECIMENS COMING FROM THERE
AND THESE IN MORE OR LESS IMPERFECT CONDITION FROM THE EFFECT OF THE
IMMENSE QUANTITY OF IGNORANCE EMPLOYED IN MAKING THE EXCAVATIONS, BUT
SHOULD JUDGE THAT THE PLACE WAS WELL WORTH AN INVESTIGATION,

I KNOW OF VERY MANY FINE SPECIMENS WHICH I COULD OBTAIN FOR THE
INSTITUTION, IF I WERE POSSESSED OF PAPERS OR CERTIFICATES TO THE
EFFECT THAT I AM COLLECTING FOR YOU.