LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



BUREAU OF SOILS, 



Washington, D. C., November 18, 1911. 



SIR: I have the honor to submit for publication as Circular No. 

 52 of this bureau a manuscript entitled " Soils of the San Luis 

 Valley, Colo.," prepared by Macy H. Lapham, scientist in soil sur- 

 vey, in charge of inspection work in the western division. This 

 article embodies the results of a reconnoissance survey of that portion 

 of the San Luis Valley lying in Colorado, into which at present many 

 settlers are going. Many of these settlers are unacquainted with 

 the conditions of climate and soil in the valley, and it is believed 

 the information afforded by this circular will be valuable to them 

 in selecting lands suitable for the several lines of farming in which 

 they may desire to embark. The peculiar methods of disposing 

 of the lands of this section, which are briefly outlined in the accom- 

 panying article, make it especially necessary for the purchasers to 

 be informed of local conditions in order that they may avoid failure 

 and loss of their investments. The need for this information was 

 brought to the attention of the bureau by prominent citizens of the 

 valley, whose request for the detailing of a soil expert to report upon 

 the soils bore the indorsement of Hon. Simon Guggenheim, United 

 States Senator from Colorado. 



Respectfully, MILTON WHITNEY, 



Chief of Bureau. 

 Hon. JAMES WILSON, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



3 



