Jensen, Utah, Nov. 6, 1911

Dr. Wm. J. Holland

Carnegie Museum

Pittsburg, Pa.



My dear Dr. Holland:-

As I stated in a note to you a day or two ago I want to give you as clear an idea as I can of the condition of affairs here as I am sure you will wish to know both on account of present interest and as a basis for future action.

You have undoubtedly, ere this had a talk with Mr. Peterson who can give you a better acct up to the time he left than I can give.

Since Mr. Peterson left we have continued taking up the fossils in the portion of the bone layer which was uncovered last winter. As it was so full of bones we have had to box the greater part. The bones have thinned out some in the lower western portion of the cut. In the lower eastern portion they seem to continue undiminished in numbers to and below the bottom of the cut and probably eastward of the uncovered portion. The zone of greatest density -- the Milky Way of the thing, seems now to be extending eastward and perhaps slightly downward, although as seen on the north side of the ledge the bones apparently extend 90 feet or more eastward in almost undiminished numbers.

Besides the two skeletons of large Brontosaurus we have large portions of skeletons of Sauropods ranging from about 20 to 50 or 60 ft in length. We can never associate all the bones of these skelestons and ascertain how complete they are until they are worked out. That some of them are practically new I have no doubt -- they must be even though some bones have been found and specific names given to them.

So far as we can judge we have three skeletons of stegosaurs more or less nearly complete besides many scattered bones all through the quarry. We have a large portion of a skeleton of Diplodocus -- about 7 dorsals, pelvis, hind limb, skull &c. the tail still running down probably below level of cut. We could dispose of this, I should judge, exchanging it for other material though we could not want to spare the skull. We have another small part of a skeleton of Diplodocus in fine shape -- Ilia, sacrum and a few dorsals and caudals. I judge that when the census is taken we have nearly a complete skeleton of Morosaurus or some sauropod about that size. We have many vertebrae, limb and footbones &c and skeleton still going to eastward.

There is only one disappointment. We haven't found as many skulls as we wished; but most of the bones this year were taken up in blocks, some of them large, and we of course can see only what appears on the surfaces. I believe that one or more skulls will be found in the laboratory but we would have been glad to see them. Instead of shipping 48000 lbs as we did last year we ought to have close to 100000 lbs. I judge.

I will give some estimates, approximately correct, as to the present or future value of the quarry. Fortunately, in this quarry if work should be continued we need not go blindly as in most quarries. One could surely get a vast amount of Dinosaur material, that is certain.

The section east of where we are now working is 90 ft long and averages about 16 ft in hight [sic] above level of track. Something like 350 cu yds of rock would have to be moved (and that not far) to expose 160 sq. yds of the surface of the bone layer. (We have up to date taken out only about 146 sq. yds of the bone layer.). Two men in between two and three months ought to be able to expose about 160 sq. yds of the fossil bearing stratum. This diagram will illustrate [sketch] the thing. Of course many bones on the upper ragged edge of the ledge are weathered and more or less injured.

We have done the hard work already. The rest is comparatively easy. We have removed about 2060 cubic yds of rock, having to shoot down into solid rock, take it out with horses, or build track and take it with car to a considerable distance. Of this rock something like 29 cu. yds was from the bone layer, leaving 2034 cu. yds. of "dead work". In extending the quarry eastward 550 cu yds of dead work and "dead easy" one could take out about 32 cu yds of the fossil layer, and apparently as many bones as have been taken out up to date. Of course it would take about the same amount of time to take out the bones as where we are at work.

It is a quite different proposition from extending quarries where every foot deepens the overlying rock. These data are important whether we should continue to work the quarry or let it to some one else. It is important to[o] in helping to decide whether we will patent the land -- or 40 acres of the best of it. The museum has now between and $850 and $1000 invested in Team, Wagon, Harness, car, tools tents et cetera.

Another important question is whether or not we are piling up a lot of duplicate material. If we were as you suggest, the latter ought to be valuable for exchange. But aside from three or more Stegosaurus skeletons, and some good parts of Diplodocus as previously mentioned there does not appear to me to be much duplication. We have two Brontosaurus skeletons, it is true but they differ in size, and perhaps in other ways.

I am writing a letter to Mr. Carnegie. He may be glad to hear at first hand something of what is being done here.

I have recently taken a little side trip and know more about the Eocene geography, geology and palaeontology of the region than I previously knew. I think perhaps that Mr. Peterson would like to collect from the Lower Uinta (Bridger?). Whether he or someone else collects for the museum they could drop into the right place and get results from the first I am confident.

As previously stated I will send more up-to-date map of the quarry when I can get it completed and copied. This will show you more than writing. Of course it will be incomplete as a large part of the bones are hidden in the rock.

I sincerely hope that you enjoyed your trip to the Old World and that you are well and enjoying life. Kindly remember me to your son at home and give him my best wishes.



Yours faithfully,

Earl Douglass