J 
October 27, 19514 
Mr. Bruce Bredin 
Greenville 
Delaware 
Dear Bruce: - 
I was unable to raise your office by long distance this afternoon, 
but it would tove made little difference, because I have been unable 
to get the further details I expected today. I hope to have them by 
next mid-week. As I go along, I have been revising my tentative esti- 
mates downward somewhat. The figure I mentioned over the phone the 
other day, $30,000, may be a bit on the liberal side, because I believe 
in being" on the safe side when undertaking an exploring expedition. 
Working with a sho'estaring ckjesn’t pay. 
I believe our present urgency for information concerns ‘the pre- 
liminaiy deposit you wish to make this calendar year, with a view to 
adding to it if necessary next year. VSiat mount did you have in mind 
for the current year? Something on the order of $20,000 or less? If 
you wish t" put down no more than two— thirds or half this mount, well 
and good, but we can definitely make a start upon the expedition, leav- 
ing the final formulation of the itinerary for a later date. As I told 
you, I have requested reservations on the Belgian line steamer. New 
York to Matadi, for April 1 or the sailing nearest that date. I have 
asked for two double cabins for you and Mrs. Biredin, the photographer, 
and nyself. Dr. fcharton is confident that he will be available when 
the time comes for iiim to join us via air in Matadi. 
Regrettably the word I have just received fran the National 
Geographic Society is not so good. Their three available staff photog- 
raphers are coirmitted for the period for Wnich we wanted one of them. 
They have offered to submit names of a few men known to them as soon as 
they have cliecked with their staff. I had .hoped that they would con- 
tribute some one from their payroll. If we have to pay the salary of 
a photographer we may need to go back to the higher figure I quoted you. 
I can take fair stills, as you no doubt can yourself. With this word 
from the Geographic Society our hands are free now. to inquire among our 
friends. Among mine there is a local physician who is an expert motion 
picture man, but I shall make no commitments with him until I have heard 
further from you. I believe you thought that you might locate a compe- 
tent man yourself should I be unsuccessful at this end. 
Any word that I get frcan Dr. Van Straelen, of the Royal Museum in 
Brussels will be more on itinerary than on cost of the expedition. 
