Pages That Need Review
Charles Bessey, Letters, 1870s
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Original in Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation Carnegie-Mellon Uni., Pitts., PA; No. 48, Twentieth Cent. Botanists
A. S. Welch, President
C. E. Bessey, Professor of [???]
Iowa Agricultural College,
Ames, Dec 27th 1879
Hon. Buel Sherman Fredericksburg, Iowa
My dear sir,
The President has suggested to me that I might have the house formerly occupied by him.
I have told him that in view of the fact that on account of my reduction of salary I am obliged to give up my house in town - not able to pay for it - I should be glad to have the house. I wanted to say to each member of the Board, however that I make no request for it; if you have the house repaired and
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want a professor for a tenant. I am more than willing to occupy it.
Of course the house would have to be considerably repaired before being occupied by any one.
Very truly Yours
C. E. Bessey
[reverse of 1]
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Tabor, Iowa May, 27th, 1879.
Professor C. E. Bessey,
My Dear Sir -
Yours of the 26th [?] was received this morning. I regret very much that it seems unpracticable for me to come to Ames as you suggest. The [?] would suit me very well but two engagements hinder me from [?].
Well, I am engaged for a Summer School at Idaho Springs, Col. in August next, and it is useless for me to try to get excused from my duties here next fall (our term begins early in September) unless I sever [?] here wholly which I should be unwilling to do as an uncer
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tainties. To say nothing of the various interests which hold me here rather firmly. (blank) next fall will demand my time here the [?] closely because our teaching force is likely to be less than normal.
If a reasonable degree of certainty could be eventually attained, ie of my getting the [?], it might be possible for me to get relieved from the before-mentioned engagements; but of course certainties [?] be [?] for uncertainties [?] a very great deal may be gained.
I shall be glad to hear of any further developments.
Thanking you for the appreciation you have shown me.
I remain yours respectfully
[?] E: Todd.
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[?] - Oct 15, 1880
My Dear Sir:
Your [?] my land [?]. [?] it reached me to [?]. You [?] my [?] . I did - though not close [?] ...our appreciation. I had never met [?] ...It struck me that
Charles Bessey, Letters, 1880
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Todd, [?] Cross Fertilization, Nat. 1. El[?], on S[?} of p[?] as [?] " 93 Steams, [?] of Seeds as a [?] in Nat. Select, in Pts " 411 Forlcase on the [?] of several sp of Lohelia " 427 Martindate Colorado Pts . 675 Forlcase Fertility of Nat. [?] of Clitonia - and Centrosterna. 688. Bru[?], Historical Sketch of NA. Rot. 754
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interest on the money I am using. And if I don't take it I can't go to school, or any thing else. So what should I do? Take the money. Do the best I can with it. And [?] in a year or tow. I can do better. That is one [?]. Another is I don't want to be helped while Willis is losing the best years of his life by "knocking around" in his efforts to earn a little necessary money. Antoher reason for any [?] to [?] [?] is that I have an almost uncontrollable desire to go and see [?] having been out of my native state and to engage in the battle poorly equipped though I be. So I think I shall go. Write me at [?] please, of [?] [?]. Of course I shall
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El Paso, Texas, Nov. 22nd, 1880.
My Dear Brother,
I had intended in this letter to give you a somewhat detailed description of the country and inhabitants but I find myself so [pressed?] for time and with such limited and meager facilities for writing that I can scarcely more [?] that I am here, and well, and that I am enjoying myself in this really foreign country.
Perhaps you wonder how I got here, away off from rail roads, and away from any where but I´ll tell you although it is to be considered as confidential. I walked: not of course from Santa Fe but from Colorado or Colorow as the Mexicans call it
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which is in the [?] about 85 miles above here. Having spent considerable money while [not?] well, and not wishing to draw too heavily on my small remaining [source?] I purchased a specimen of the genus [?], packed my wordly goods and his book and started for this place. We – for there were two of us – carried our rations with us. During the day we drove [Domingo?] [the?] [horse?] before us, and at night lit a fire and slept under no other roof than the firmament afforded. We accomplished the distance in a little more than four days and should have made it much quicker but for the deep sand in some parts of the journey. It was a new form of [?] and I should enjoy it immensely with a congenial companion,
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or even alone.
The Rio Grande valley, which is the only valuable land in the country so far as agriculture is concerned, is from one to two miles in width in the southern half of the territory, and is pretty well [covered?] with trees, almost all of which are cottonwoods, with great bushy tops like large apple trees. Since the Rail Road has [arose?] into it most of the [land?] [?] takes possession of [by?] [?] and white [?], although very little of it is under [cultivation?]. But there can be no doubt as to its fertility, and [did?] the Rio Grande but [?] water [enough?] the valley might sustain our immense population. I have never seen more [sound?] corn stalks or better ears of corn than here. What produces at
