
          Washington DC
Sep 21st  54.

Dear Sir

I have just recd [received] your favor of the 19th inst. [instant]
and am very happy to make the arrangement you suggest 
about the plants. There will I think be no trouble about[?]
and I think full justice can be done to the collection. I have 
conferred with the authorities and understand that it is not
proposed unreasonably to restrict the development of the
scientific results of these surveys. A brief general report
upon the subject I would be glad to have by the last of Oct.
for the purpose of illustrating (in a general way) the vegetation
along the route and more particularly in reference to the collection
of grasses you will find among the specimens. There are
several specimens of the Gramineae, Mesquite & Buffalo
grasses a description of which would be very interesting and
very necessary in reporting upon the agricultural resources of 
the country & its capacity to support a population.

As I shall undoubtedly leave here in February next & the Secretary
of  War is anxious that the time for the full report upon the
scientific matter of my survey I should [crossed out: abt] abridged as much
as possible, it would be a matter of the first consequence to
        