30 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ALBANY MEETING 



Transfer to Washington 



The position at Ann Arbor grew more difficult. On the death of Pro- 

 fessor Eussell he had hoped that he might get transferred into the Geo- 

 logical Department. But President Angell wanted a brilliant and well 

 known geologist and found him in W. H. Hobbs. 



"Ann Arbor, Michigan, May 8. 190G. 



"Yours received j^esterday. Regarding the various matters therein, T will 

 say that (1) I am taking two of Russell's classes, which come three days per 

 week each, both elementary courses, and do not think they will interfere 

 seriously with my writing, as I have frequently been over the same work with 

 other classes. (2) No plans have even been broached regarding the future of 

 the work. I doubt, however, if any reorganization is attempted at present, as 

 President Angell thinks it not necessary to do all here that is done in other 

 universities ; in fact, says that it is gradually coming around to the point where 

 the various institutions can not do more than specialize in one or two direc- 

 tions, leaving others to do other lines of work more thoroughly. I would like 

 to take up permanently the work that Russell has been doing, changing the 

 character of it very little, but making teaching a good deal more prominent 

 and working up some field courses which would be the means of stirring up 

 an interest in the subject. In order to do this, I should have to have free 

 hand, such as only a man above the assistant professor can have. I am going 

 to apply for the place, and any word that you can put in in my behalf will be 

 much appreciated. It has been your encouragement and help that have made 

 it possible for me to make any claim in the matter, and I shall appreciate your 

 further advice, suggestions, and such recommendations as you may be able to 

 give me. Remember, if you please, that I taught geology and physiography at 

 Alma throughout my stay there, and that I twice taught it here in the summer 

 school, and was urged to go on with that work after I made the break into 

 forestry, but did not because Roth didn't want me to. Of course, it is very 

 probable that some one else will get the place, and I am not counting at all 

 on it myself, but I feel that I ought to try for it. My graduate work included 

 geology. 



"Regarding the work for the summer, I am counting on doing the Upper 

 Peninsula work in any case. It is not likely that I shall know one way or the 

 other about the place for next year until late summer, and I must keep an 

 eye out for my income just the same, and it is not a bad thing for me to be 

 able to say that I am going into the Upper Peninsula to continue the work 

 that Russell has been doing there, even when it is understood that he would 

 not have continued it anyway because of more congenial work elsewhere. 

 Then the field-work is stimulating and helpful for future thought and dis- 



Working in Upper Michigan with Leverett and Eussell, studying the 

 peat and the forests, he could hardly fail to become interested in the 

 surface and glacial geology. His last work for the State Survey, never 

 published by it, was in this field, but some account is given in letters 



