Jensen, Utah, Nov. 16, 1910

Dr. Wm. J. Holland

Carnegie Museum

Pittsburg, Pa.



My dear Dr. Holland;

We are all at work trying to prepare for our absence at the quarry. I plainly see that we shall have to call a halt on taking up bones or we will not get out this fall. We will cover everything up in good shape and mark the numbers and names of the bones on the plaster.

I am glad to announce that we have two skulls of Dinosaurs, a Diplodocus and a Laosaurus! The Diplodocus appears to be a complete skull judging by the exposure of the base which we have made. It seems pretty large to me -- about 26 inches in length. It is in hard rock and will take some time to get it out in good shape. Some cracks run through the skull but the bone appears to be good and sound on both sides so when the parts are joined I judge it will be as good as ever. The mandible is not with the skull but may be near.

The other skull is that of one of the Laosauridae. The skull and jaw are in articulation with the neck as in life. It belongs to the skeleton which was found in the cut the famous big block. I judge that we have a large part of the skeleton if it is not complete. There is one misfortune. I set a man to dig around it. He watched carefully for bone but when we came to examine the skull a little of the front portion of the jaws was gone. We have hunted and hunted again and I can't understand it. We have not given up.

I feel sure that if you could let me know you would want me to securely box these skulls and send them to you by express, so unless I get a telegram or a letter to the contrary I will do so. It is quicker and undoubtedly safer than to send them by freight. This will make the Laosaurus? complete. I was mistaken about its being a carnivorous Dinosaur as I was judging by the foot.

I believe as I always have believed, that this quarry will put headless Dinosaurs out of fashion, and I fully expect that we will get a fine skull of Brontosaurus, as well as that of No. 40. But we will see.

I cannot tell just how soon we will get started but I hope, in a week or two.



Yours with best wishes

Earl Douglass