Charles Bessey, Letters, 1881

Henry Holt & Co. New York.

New Yor[k] May 17 630 PM D

Prof. C. E. Bes[sey] Ames, Io[wa?]

Henry Holt & Co. Publishers

12 East 23d St., Madison Square, New York. May 17, 1881

Prof. C. E. Bessey, Dear Sir:

We shall soon want to print a new edition of your Botany, and if you have any further corrections to make please let us have them as soon as possible.

Respectfully Yours Henry Holt & Co. [Vogelin?]

J. C. Strong, President. J. M. Williams, Cashier.

Established A. D. 1853. Winnesheik Co. Bank, Mrs. H. S. Weiser & Co. Decorah, Iowa, Feby 10 1881.

C. E. Bessey Ames, I[a?/o?]

Dear Sir – I herewith send specimens as requested except [Acidium lanthosyli?] all of which were sent Ellis. Write him for a spec. [Puccinia hieracii?] was on a specimen of [Hieracium?] in my herbarium, which now belongs to Fayette University Fayette I[a?] – and when I sent it away I omitted taking off a leaf.

Yrs. Truly E. W. Holway.

Did you discover what the [Acidium?] was I sent you before?

OFFICE OF

GEN. JAS. L. GEDDES.

Deputy Treasurer.

Iowa Agricultural College.

J. S. Welch, LL. D., President

Ames, Iowa, Oct 24 1881

Prof C. E. Bessey

Dear Sir

Your department accounts to date stand as follows [viz]?

Botany $174.30 appro by Board $230.00

Respectfully

Geddes

[Dept]?-[Treas]?

W. J. McGee, Farley, Iowa, U. S. A.

Dec. 7th, 1881.

Prof. C. E. Bessey, Ames, Iowa.

Dear Sir:–

I mail you herewith a copy of a proposed bill for a Geological Survey of Iowa and a petition for its passage. You will observe that I have thought it desirable to provide for a Geological Commission of somewhat less exclusively political character than those which have been generally created. I hope that such a commission as that contemplated in the bill will meet with your approval. I transmit a copy to President Welch by this mail. Dr. Pickard has already approved the bill, though suggetsing one or two slight literary alterations. I may add that it has been approved by the American Association Committee on State Geological Surveys, and by all the scientific men of the state who have seen it. Prof. [Culain?] has expressed himself as quite satisfied with it, and has volunteered to support it in Johnson and several other countries. Any suggestions that you may make will, however, be most

gratefully received.

In case you find the bill satisfactory, we should be pleased to have your aid in securing its passage. Our plan is to obtain signatures of a few leading citizens in each county – such as will be likely to influence legislators from the county individually, – to secure the signatures of so many of the faculty of each important educational institution as to [?] us in claiming the support of such institution, and to induce editors of leading papers to favorably notice the contemplated law. I trust that you will feel disposed to take the charge of Story County. Moreover, since neither Prof. [Calain?] nor myself happen to be acquainted in apolk County, [sic.] we should be very glad indeed to have you make some effort there for us – say to the extent of a not &, or an interview with the editors of the Register – the only leading paper in the state which we do not think we can secure.

I was disappointed in not being able to visit Ames a week or two agol I was also disappointed in not reaching Cincinnatti until after your departure; and finally, I reached Mt. Vernon on the 25th. [?] only a few minutes after you left.

I will sned you a preliminary report of the Iowa Academy Comm. on Legislative Action, with a bill, in a few days.

Hoping that you will not deem e too presumptuous in thus addressing you.

I remain, sir, Very Truly yours, W. J. McGee.