
          June 25' 1855


 My Dear Dr.


 I have but little information
 to give respecting the
 intentions or probabilities of the
  P. RR. [Pacific railroad] reports. I have been working
 diligently at the collections 
 and have covered an awful
 pile of paper without ever getting
 nearer the end. I hardly
 dare to think when I shall
 get through.


 The present plan seems
 rather to be that of having
 each report [crossed out: cons] to begin with
 a new paging and be complete
 in itself without reference to the 
 others. This will enable several
 parts to be going on at once.
 Thus the Zoology will have
 a new paging, botany do. [ditto] etc.
 for each report. Your botanical
 report can then be printed at
        