CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
THE SCIENCE MUSEUM 
GOLDEN GATE PARK : SAN FRANCISCO l8, CALIFORNIA 
THE ALEXANDER F. MORRISON PLANETARIUM 
TELEPHONE BAYVIEW I-5IOO 
THE STEINHART AQUARIUM 
March 1, 1957 
Dr. Waldo Schmitt 
U.S. National Museum 
Washington 25, D.C. 
Dear Dr. Schmitt: 
It has been some time since we have communicated and much 
has happened since then. Perhaps we can catch up on news during 
some future personal contact. In the meantime I have a question 
to ask. 
I note that you conducted an expedition to the Congo. This 
is of interest because I will be departing for the same region 
during June of this year. Through my lectures I have attracted 
sufficient private funds to make this trip possible and to ex- 
tend it for about a nine-month period (six months in the Congo and 
about 3 months in a quick survey of pertinent life zones in east 
an southeastern Africa). Africa appears to be the richest area in the 
world for my Embioptera and the trip will,. round out my world mono- 
graph which is being carried on with NSF help. Also, I will try my 
candid photographic technique on African insect subjects. 
I am writing mainly for advise on transportation. We are plan- 
ning to outfit a ton-and-one-half GMC 8 MC ' - truck and ship it to Matadi. 
This will he compartment ed for efficient loading and the top surface 
will be rigged as a high and dry platform for our tent. As in the 
Andes, we want to be able to stay where we want to work in wilderness 
areas. We often go for weeks without purchasing lodgings or meals. 
I am wondering about the suitability of such a truck. Perhaps by 
merely mentioning the type of road difficulties one encounters I would 
know the answer to this question. For example, are there many deep river 
fords? How large were the trucks commonly using the roads, raft ferries, 
and bridges? Did you encounter many situations where four-wheel drive 
was essential? I enclose a cutout of the type of truck we are about to 
acquire. Perhaps a simple answer to the above questions will be^ord that 
such vehicles were commonly seen during your trip. 
Do you have airy specific missions we can accomplish for you? 
With best wishes, 
GH nr>OT»«1 V 
Edward S. Ross 
Curator of Insects 
