Increase Allen Lapharn. — Winchell. 27 
forget. Under the circumstances there appears not one palli- 
ative streak of justification" or excuse for the cruel act of gov- 
ernor Taylor. It was an extreme exemplification of the un- 
reason and selfishness of partisan politics. The press and the 
public generally considered his removal under the circum- 
stances an unpardonable outrage. It is a lesson, however, 
which, with others that geology has learned from similar source, 
speaks loudly for redress, and which warns geologists that 
partisan politics is a ravenous creature which respects no 
persons, no services, no public weal, or personal rights, and 
which prostitutes to its own uses the non-partisan labors of 
the scientist, as relentlessly as the wolf devours the lamb. 
Dr. Lapham's assistants tendered their resignation and sent 
to Dr. Laphani the following letter: 
I. A. Lapham, L. L. D. 
Dear Sir: — We trust that the intercourse of -the last two years, dur- 
ing which we have acted as members of the geological corps under your 
direction, has not left you without unmistakable evidences of the con- 
fidence we have reposed in you as a man, a scientist and as our official 
superior; and we hope that, even now, it is not necessary that we should 
add to these evidences. But we, nevertheless, desire to express indi- 
vidually, and collectively, and in this explicit manner, our high appre- 
ciation cf the very great efficiency of your administration of the survey 
and of the valuable assistance you have rendered us in the discharge of 
our duties; of the many facilities you have placed in our possession, 
which have added largely to the work accomplished; of that vast fund of 
knowledge collected by your industry, during thirty years, or more, of 
active study of the resources of the state, which has ever been freely at 
our command, and which has been so generously mingled with our own 
accumulations; of that promptness which has never caused a delay for 
want of material, or instruction; of that exactness which has never left 
room for hesitancy or doubt, and of that prudence and discretion that 
have so conspicuously marked your administration. More than we can 
readily estimate of those results that bear our names, are due to the 
contributions that you have continually poured into them. 
Knowing that time, which proves all things, will do ample justice, and 
feeling most strongly the irreparable loss the State has sustained in the 
disseverment of your connection with the survey, we remain, with most 
sincere respect, your obedient servants, 
Roland D. [rving, 
T. C. Chamber u.\, 
Moses Strono, 
Assistant Geologists. 
W. W. Danixixs, 
Chemist to the Survey. 
