February 5, 1908.



Monsieur Blavette,

Architect du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle,

Paris, France



Dear Sir;-



I have received the modified design and specifications of the bases for the support of the Diplodocus which you have sent me and have carefully examined them. According to the letter received from Monsieur Boule, he suggested that the height of the base should be 0.58 m. If I understand your drawing you have made the height of the bases 0.68. This is not a matter of any importance so far as the base intended to support the body and caudal vertebrĉ of the Diplodocus is concerned, but you have also reduced the size of the support for the neck and increased the height. This seems to me to be a dangerous experiment. The neck of the Diplodocus is very long and it requires a firm support. I fear that the very small support which you have provided in your plans will not possess stability enough. It ought to be as shown in my plan. The neck is supported sufficiently by the body not to necessitate a broad base antero-posteriorly, but the tendency is to swing laterally, and therefore the base that supports it must be wider laterally than it is antero-posteriorly.



I fear very much that a base of the small size you send me would not possess sufficient stability unless it were screwed fast to the floor and that it would have a tendency to topple over. We have had experience with these things, and while it is true that the replica is not as heavy by any means as the original, a base of smaller dimensions than the one I have proposed is in my judgment not desirable. To build it as you plan is, I think, open to practical objection on the ground of stability, especially when you increase the height.



You are aware that we supply all parts of the framework which are made of metal. These things we will ship from America, and you need not at all take into account the iron rods, the rosettes of bronze, or any of the parts that are concerned in sustaining the skeleton except the wooden bases. You should also bear in mind that the entire top of the framework must be left open while we are setting up the skeleton, and that it is only when the work of restoration has been complete that the tops will be put into position.



The price suggested in the estimate you submit to me is quite satisfactory. I would very much prefer to have you yourselves at the Museum contract for this work with the proper party, acting under authorization from me, and upon completion of the installation I will hand the authorities in [P]aris my check for the amount and you can settle with the people who do the work for you. For me to give an order at this distance is not as satisfactory as for you yourselves to give the order.



As to shortening the length of the base which supports the caudal vertebrĉ, I am satisfied that can be done, and you may reduce the length, but by no means the width of this base, which I see, according to the plans submitted, you have slightly increased over the width of the base which I designed and submitted to you.  I am,



Yours very truly,

Director