2(i The American Geologist. January, 1894 
pursuant to Chapter 292, of the laws of 1878, all authority (if any) pos- 
sessed by you as Chief Geologist ceased and was annulled on the 16th 
day of February, A. D. 1875. 
Very respectfully your obedient servant, 
W. R. Taylor, Governor. 
This change took the community by sudden surprise. The 
new appointee had not been known as a geologist, nor has he 
since. It was palpably a political appointment, and as such 
it lies at the door of Gov. Taylor. Though geological science 
in America has suffered numerous such crimes at the hands of 
politicians, none have been so cruel, causeless and criminal as 
the removal of Dr. Lapham. There had not been a ripple of 
discontent. The survey had done an unwonted amount of 
work considering its means and men. Its reports had been 
prompt and full. Its maps, sections, sketches, its specimens 
collected, its scientific and practical results, though still un- 
published, and the unruffled harmony that pervaded the corps, 
all demanded of the executive of the State that its organiza- 
tion should be undisturbed. United with the chagrin of re- 
moval was the added sting, which rankled in Lapham's breast 
until death relieved him, expressed in Gov. Taylor's official 
letter, of non- confirmation by the Senate. This was a fact, 
and at the same time a misrepresentation ; but the wiliness of 
the artful politician, as revealed by the statement of Dr. 
Wight, is apparent in the governor's silence as to the cause 
of non-confirmation, — his name had never been presented to 
the Senate. It had simply been an oversight on the part of 
governor Washburn. He held Gov. Washburn's commission. 
He was no politician. With him official position was never 
sought, but came unsolicited. He was not a self-confident 
man. He was modest and never ambitious of personal prefer- 
ment. He had spent much of his life in gratuitous service of 
the State and of the community in which he lived. He had a 
right to expect that the only remunerative public position 
which he ever held would be allowed to continue until he could 
bring to a successful close those long continued labors on its 
natural history and its industrial resources which he had 
prosecuted hitherto unrewarded. He had a right to hope that 
he would be aide to establish, in the completion of this survey. 
a commemorative and creditable monument to his Zealand in- 
dustry, which succeeding generations would not willingly 
