DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

WASHINGTON D. C.,

April 30, 1886.

Prof. O. C. Marsh,

New Haven Conn.

My dear Prof.

Your letter received. I think my letter
to you the day before yesterday will explain most things.

There is no doubt that the bill expresses simply the views
of Mr Herbert. The bill is simply ridiculous as it
permits geological work but prohibits publication.

The director is writing up a reply to-day. He says that
there is nothing that you can do at present, possibly he
may call upon you and others for some expression in the
matter but at a later day. There is no doubt but what
Agassiz is at the bottom of the business.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

WASHINGTON D. C.,

May 4, 1886.

My dear Marsh,

I send you a few lines not because I
have anything to definite to say but because I,
suppose you
might be looking for something. There is nothing new
since the first outburst of the storm. I think that
nothing definite will be done against the Survey in Con-
gress only there is likely to be a good deal of talk and
possibly some blows may strike. You cannot tell however
where the thing will end. I think restricting the pub-
lications is aimed very largely at you. I think there is
a desire to cut you off from government aid. All the
enemies of the Geological Survey will act together in this
matter and it behooves the friends of the Survey to be on
the alert. Powell goes before the appropriations commit-
tee this evening to explain to Randall and others his
ideas of the work and publication. Did you see the

ideas of the work and direction. Did you see the
too this evening to exhibit to Lumbill and others his
the field. Powell goes before the appropriations commit-
ment and it pleases the friends of the Survey to be on
enemies of the Geological Survey will not together in this
a desire to cut you off from government aid. All the
factions is timed very largely at you. I think there is
where the thing will end. I think restricting the rub-
casify some picnics may strike. You cannot tell however
great only there is likely to be a good deal of fight and
nothing definite will be done regarding the Survey in Con-
since the first outbreak of the atom. I think that
might be looking for something. There is nothing new
have anything to definite to early put before you and
I send you a few lines not because I
My dear Warah,

May 4, 1883.

article in to-day's New York World? My opinion is that
it is better to delay writing articles to Senators till
you learn just what the Commission propose to do officially.
In a letter you fire your shot at something which will
have no effect if you write before that time. My own
opinion is that Powell shot off his letter a little too
soon. The result may be that you will not know anything
about allotments for so many weeks to come. Write me
what you hear and do as I want to keep thoroughly posted
in the matter. How did King talk to you ?

Very truly yours,

Prof O. C. Marsh.

New Haven

Prof. C. O. Marsh.
New Haven.

Very truly yours,

in the matter. How did King talk to you?
What you heard and do as I want to keep shrouded
about pilotment for a while to come.
Write me
soon.

The result may be that you will not know anything
opinion is that Powell shot off his letter a little too
far. I do not affect it. You write before this time.
My own
In a letter you fire your shot at something which will
you form just what the Commission will have to do critically
it is better to delay writing articles to Barbara till
articles in to-day's New York World?
My opinion is that

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

WASHINGTON D. C.,

May 5, 1886.

My dear Marsh,

Nothing very new to-day. Powell did not appear before the Appropriations Committee last evening as I wrote to you but is before them this afternoon. The temper of the Committee can be best judged from the interview. The bill restricting the publications of the Survey has, I understand from Powell, the unanimous consent of the Commission except that they strike out the section referring to laboratories. The section referring to the publication of the monographs and bulletins, and the publications of paleontological work stands as it did originally in Herbert's bill. This is a pretty sweeping change. Agassiz's letter has had a very great influence with the Commission. Cope has followed it up closely having had interviews with several members of the Commission. He states that he is ready to publish all this

He acts that he is ready to publish all this
mission. Having had interviews with several members of the Com-
with the Commission. Gave him followed it up closely
change.GRAIN'S letter has had a very great influence
influences in Herbert's bill. This is a pretty sweeping
letters of polemical work at large as it did orig-
pulation of the monographs and bulletins, and the bud-
retiring to laboratories. The action retarding to the
of the Commission except that they strike out the section
Soviet has i underwritten from Powell the unanimous con-
interview. The bill restricting the publications of the
The danger of the Committee can be best judged from the
ning as I wrote to you but is before them this afternoon.
not appear before the Appropriations Committee first even-
Mopping very new to-day. Powell did
My dear Mr. Land.

May 5, 1988.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

WASHINGTON D. C.

May 13, 1886.

sh.

I am informed that the raid of Senator Morgan and Congressman Herbert upon the Geological Survey grows out of a feud between Prof. Marsh, of Yale College, and Prof. Cope, the two eminent paleontologists. Major Powell, the director of the survey, has placed Prof. Marsh in charge of that branch of the investigations of the bureau, instead of Prof. Cope, who had the work while Prof. Hayden was in charge. Both are able men, but are not satisfied with the work of each other and have not been for years. If the work should be given to Cope I suppose Marsh would make war upon the survey, and Major Powell has got to stand the racket whichever way he may turn. At the Cosmos Club, where the scientific men of Washington make their rendezvous, the details of the squabble are well understood and are a topic of discussion constantly. There is only one

voice concerning the report that Congressman Herbert has made and only one opinion as to the authorship. They all say that no one but Cope could have written it; that it bears his imprint in every line, and that there is not a man in the United States who could handle the subject with as much ability and vigor as he.

I suppose that you have been looking for
for several days, but there has been nothing
report. Powell has not yet appeared before
the variations Committee owing to the slight indispo-
sition of Chairman Randall. He has made one or two ap-
pointments but they failed to come to time. This morning
he appeared before the Science Commission and talked for
two hours. He appears pretty well pleased this afternoon
with his interview and says he got in several good points.
They, however, expressed no opinion as to what they would do.
This best information is that Allison, Hale, and Wait of
Conn. will sign a majority report strongly in favor of the
Survey. I enclose herewith a clipping from last Sunday's
Capital which may interest you.

Prof. O. C. Marsh,

New Haven.

us. I am informed that the raid of Senator
and Congressman Herbert Upton
in Washington or Geo. of Virginia
 Survey grows out of
 a Union
Case of V.

ing Stoves
LY USE,
Person, or for Fifty
ies and Styles.
BY
GASLICHT CO.

British Generals to Lead an Orange
Rebellion Against Home Rule

WASHINGTON D. C.,

May 13, 1886.

sh.

I suppose that you have been looking for
r several days, but there has been nothing
report. Powell has not yet appeared before
aations Committee owing to the slight indispo-
sition of Chairman Randall. He has made one or two ap-
pointments but they failed to come to time. This morning
he appeared before the Science Commission and talked for
two hours. He appears pretty well pleased this afternoon
with his interview and says he got in several good points.
They, however, expressed no opinion as to what they would do.
This best information is that Allison, Hale, and Wait of
Conn. will sign a majority report strongly in favor of the
Survey. I enclose herewith a clipping from last Sunday's
Capital which may interest you.

Prof. O. C. Marsh,

New Haven.

I am informed that the raid of Senator Morgan and Congressman Herbert upon Geological Survey grows out of tween Prof. Marsh, of Yale, Prof. Cope, of New York, and Major Powell, of Connecticut.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

WASHINGTON D. C.,

May 13, 1886.

My dear Marsh.

I suppose that you have been looking for
a letter for several days, but there has been nothing
special to report. Powell has not yet appeared before
the appropriations Committee owing to the slight indispo-
sition of Chairman Randall. He has made one or two ap-
pointments but they failed to come to time. This morning
he appeared before the Science Commission and talked for
two hours. He appears pretty well pleased this afternoon
with his interview and says he got in several good points.
They, however, expressed no opinion as to what they would do.
This best information is that Allison, Hale, and Wait of
Conn. will sign a majority report strongly in favor of the
Survey. I enclose herewith a clipping from last Sunday's
Capital which may interest you.

Prof. O. C. Marsh,

New Haven.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

WASHINGTON D. C., June 9, 1886.

Prof. O. C. Marsh,

New Haven Conn.

My dear Marsh:

I telegraphed you a few words this morning giving you good news from the Joint Commission investigating the scientific bureaus. The Major received yesterday afternoon advanced proof-sheets of the full report from the Printing Office, and he had it read aloud to all five of us here in the office. I will not pretend to give you any synopsis of it now. You will see it before a great while. It is a very long report, going over the whole ground of the exploration surveys. It certainly takes very strong ground in favor of the Geological Survey, and I do not see how we could have expected the Commission to have made a stronger report. It takes the bull right by the horns, discusses the expense and time of the whole thing, and says it must go on, and never for a moment dodges or attempts to go around the cost of the Survey, but says it is of great

2

national importance and must be provided for from time to time by Congress.

It estimates that the work will take at least 24 years, and that the field-work, office, and publication will cost many millions of dollars. Nevertheless, the work must go on, the plans and methods being changed from time to time according to the new developments of science, the increase in population of the country, and the increase in the public treasury. The only restriction which it proposes is in the matter of compelling all illustrations and costs of printing to be submitted before authorization of publication.

This, I think, is no more than right, because with free use of illustration and printing there is no doubt that anybody will be liable to extravagance. The only thing the Major objects to is that it places the illustrations of the Annual Reports on the same footing with those of the monographs and bulletins, and he would much prefer to be free to get out the Annual Reports without having to submit costs of illustrations. While this would be an improvement, it is not to me a very serious matter, and I think in time will be properly adjusted.

3

We all feel very much delighted with the result so far,
and Powell justly feels in very good spirits to-day, as he
has had a pretty long fight over the matter. My opinion is
nothing will be done this summer. The report will be pre-
sented, printed, and put on the tables of the Members. There
may be some little discussion but the great discussion will
go over till next winter. The report puts the matter in the
right light. It states that the work is a great national
work, will be very expensive, gives the figures and lets
everybody know just where we stand, and what they (the Com-
mission) think ought to be done. It will probably give
rise to a great deal of discussion, but in the end we will
come out all right.

The Appropriation Committee have prepared the sundry
civil bill with the exception of the section referring to
the appropriations for the Coast Survey and Geological Survey.
Now that they have the report of the Commission before them
they will probably fill in the amounts to be given to the
different bureaus. My opinion is that we will get the same
as last year with possibly a very slight increase, but not
very much. The pressure from headquarters is to cut down

4

appropriations, so that we will do very well if we hold our
own of last year.

I cannot say how soon I shall get away. I want to leave
in a few days, but there are some matters about which I want
to talk to the Director, and he does not feel like acceding
to any plans of operation until he understands pretty well
what Congress will give us.

The Joint Commission report is signed by Allison, Hale,
Lowry and Wait. There had been some doubt about Lowry, but
he comes out all right in the end. This is important, be-
cause he is a Democrat, and all others Republicans. The
minority report will be signed by Senator Morgan and Her-
bert---both Democrats.

Very truly yours,