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Via Airmail 2 November 1953 
Mr. Will iam H. Phelps, Jr. 
Apartado 2009 
A Caracas, Venezuela 
Dear Billy: 
Tour first communication relative to the Orinoco trip was forwarded to 
me in San Francisco, where I had gone prior to the A.O.U. meeting, to ex am i n e 
a collection of birds from western PanamA. Your father gaAte me the second 
one with the revised schedule when we were together in Ins Anfealee. Needless 
to say, I have been delighted to learn of the expedition and especially happy 
that you and Kathy have included me in the personnel. 
I came home from the West a week ago so that last Tuesday was my first 
day in the office. I returned for a series of meetings that I had to attend, 
and in between started the wheels turning on the necessary arrangements for 
the trip since time is short. This will explain why I have not written you 
earlier since in the time X had available between these meetings, X had to 
get various things moving. 
Immediately on receipt of your first letter I wrote to Jim Kempton about 
bringing in a 16 guage shotgun and have furnished him thenecessary information 
on make and number so that he may apply for an import permit for me. I am 
going to try to come down by steamer in order to bring the field outfio in 
most easily, provided that I may be able to secure transportation. The time 
is a little difficult since the holiday season is a chosen period for cruise 
passengers. I will let you know a little later as soon as I can, what I have 
been able to secure in the way of transportation, hut will say now that I will 
be under necessity, for reasons which X will explain to you later, of spending 
Christmas in Curasao. I will expect to send my gear forward as unaccompanied 
baggage and then cross by air from Cura 9 ao immediately following Christmas. 
I should then have sufficient time in Caracas prior to departure on January 2. 
I am busy at the moment with the details of two field outfits, one to take 
to Venezuela and the other to be shipped by ocean freight to Pananul where it 
will be held until I come across by air after the Orinoco trip. After talking 
with your father in Ijos Angeles, I will probably find it easier to arrange to 
cross again to Curajao by steamer, taking the Venezuelan gear with me and then 
ship it north from Curajao. Through connections I have there I will have no 
difficulty in getting the material sent forward by freight. 
You told me something a year ago about the pressure on you to develop a 
television station and X wish you all success in this expensive under making. 
I am sure it will be successful when I see how widespread television is in 
,, S j 
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•.Jf y r- 
