Jensen, Utah, Oct. 16, 1921 Wm. J. Holland Carnegie Museum Pittsburg, Pa. Dear Dr. Holland:- I do not remember the exact status of affairs when I last wrote to you in detail about the quarry. I wish in this letter, however, to go over the matter pretty thoroughly so that you may understand the conditions here as nearly as possible. We have had a lot of so called dead work to do but fortunately the larger portion of it is now done. We had to make a piece of new, safe road where water in summer and ice in winter were constantly washing out and obstructing it. To properly get at the skeletons exposed near the extreme eastern part of the quarry we had to begin at a point over 200 feet east of the east line of the old quarry and at a place topographically 60 feet below where we began in 1909. As this was on the east side of the divide and we could not snake heavy blocks over the hill to the westward, we made a trail and wagon road from this east lower level back of the line (north of Dinosaur Peak) to the old landing below, in Camp Gulch. We made a little "cave" for plaster there and the last time we got plaster it was taken up to the east landing, where we are at work, with teams and wagons. It was the first time a wagon had ever been at the quarry. A trail had to be made from there up to the upper landing -- the floor of the old cut so that the blocks which were up there could be snaked down. A large amount of rock had to be removed from the east end to get at the skeletons above mentioned, and then a large skeleton intervened. I have told you before about the skeleton of Stegosaurus and the skeleton of unknown medium-sized dinosaur partly lying over the anterior portion of Stegosaurus, and preventing our knowledge of the completeness of that skeleton until the overlying skeleton could be removed. I also told you that passing under the east end of the tail of Stegosaurus was the neck of a Sauropod Dinosaur. So far as we have seen, this much resembles Diplodocus. Several feet below we have struck what we think are the dorsals and sacrals of this skeleton and in making the above-mentioned tunnel about 15 or 20 ft to the eastward we took out a section of a tail which very likely belongs to the same individual. It looks now like a nearly complete skeleton "connected up". The other, larger skeleton, which we encountered in excavating for these skeletons, has the general appearance of Apatosaurus tho we cannot tell, as we see only the ventral aspect of the vertebrae and the bones, which apparently could be nothing but the pubes, seem extremely short, and different in shape from any others which we have seen. One or two of the posterior cervicals, the full series of Dorsals and Sacrals and two or more caudals are articulated without any break. The tail may be articulated throughout though only the anterior caudals have been uncovered. The Ilium of the right side, at least a portion of it, is in place. The femur may be there. The head of the left Femur is nearly in the right position relative to the spinal column but the left Ilium has not yet showed up. The left tibia and Fibula have just showed up and they are in articular position with the femur. One Scapula, the Ischia, and Pubes, are disarticulated and are lying to the eastward as seen in the picture. Two or three ribs have showed up. The ribs at the right (lower) side are just showing up and are evidently articulated. The connected series of Caudal Vertebrae extending eastward and westward at the base of the exposure apparently belong to another skeleton. They probably belonged to a Diplodocus. To sum up, we have large parts of four skeletons exposed with parts of others. Two skeletons may be complete and another nearly so; the other lacks the greater portion of a neck. The small skull with Diplodocus-like teeth was at the floor of the present excavation, and efforts have not yet been made to ascertain whether the skeleton or portion of the skeleton is there. I can hardly refrain from stopping for a moment to think what changes are brought about by time and conditions. Suppose when the Carnegie Museum sent out its first expedition, or at any time previous to the discovery of this quarry, four nearly complete skeletons of four different genera of Dinosaurs has been uncovered at once! The world would probably have been more excited about it than they did our Diplodocus. How it would have pleased Mr. Carnegie. He could have presented the king with a real skeleton. Now we pass these things by as common occurrences. Were it not for being near the surface and weathering there would very likely be four practically complete skeletons. We are now pretty well away from the weathered border. The work of blocking them out and taking them down is now in progress on all the skeletons. That of removing Stegosaurus and the unknown skeleton is well under way. Several blocks of Diplodocus(?) are in blocks and part of them down, but I assure you that there is a lot of work to do and it will take considerable time even with the full force which we now have. I have estimated that there are about 60 blocks now in sight. This means also much plaster and lumber. I think that I wrote you that the whole chart of the quarry, now over 400 feet long, (except the "new bones") has been copied on a new chart reduced to one half the scale of the old chart (12 inch to the foot). I have been thinking that (for safety, your convenience, and to have a double record) we ought to make a copy and send it to you. We have had so much outside work that we have not done so yet. We have the tracing cloth and this may be a good job for cold stormy days which will come later. We have tried, in this new chart to check and cross check from different partial charts and records and eliminate errors as far as possible. When possible I am working at the permanent records, copying from the series of records from the beginning. I have a large binder and loose leaf system so, after copying the serial numbers, sub numbers, contents of boxes, etc can be put in serial order and anything can be looked up at will located on chart etc. It will take some time, to get all charts and permanent records in shape, but this is the only true system that I known. You have left the management of affairs here pretty much to the one who is on the ground and ought to know what it is best to do and how to do it the best way. I think that those who know the conditions would agree that this is the [easiest? surest?] plan. In fact the details could not be managed from afar. As conditions have been I do not see how we could have gotten along much better. Had we known in the beginning that there was such a long campaign ahead we might have managed some things a little differently, but no one could have foreseen this. So far as financial affairs are concerned the system of making a certain allowance, instead of continually calling for money needed, has been far more satisfactory to all concerned than the old way. Of course changing conditions produce some fluctuation in the amount absolutely required. Sometimes there is a balance and sometimes a deficit. If it is understood, as it has been, that, under special conditions, additional money can be obtained to carry on the work without slowing up or interruption, it makes the conditions ideal. I said some years ago that it was up to the Museum to decide the amount of the financial allowance, and I would do the best I could with it. I would cut the garment to the cloth as the ladies apparently do now; but just at a casual glance as some ladies are passing by, and without a careful examination, I have thought that the cloth was sometimes most too scant for decency. I have been able to manage things here, most of the time, without calling for further help, but I want to present conditions as they are now, show up the thing as it appears to me, and get your present feelings and wishes in the matter. I am aware that no other place has been found where a larger paleontological harvest can be obtained. I am becoming aware too, that the mine is practically inexhaustible and that we shall never see anywhere near the end of it. I know that this branch of paleontology is behind on account of the great labor and cost of getting out and preparing the skeletons for study and exhibition, and I am aware that no museum except the Carnegie Museum is financially prepared to do the work. I am sure, too, that what we get we must "git while were gittin". I know too that the Carnegie Museum, in this line, beats all the rest of the world for complete material and the quantity of it, and that it was this line of work more than any other that made it so quickly renowned. I know, too, that all of this is none of my business but that I am a humble servant whose business is to do as best I can the work that is given me to do. The question now is what is best for the museum, and it is not one for me to decide though in absence of instructions from my superiors, it is my duty to use my best skill and judgment. But in planning to close the campaign as soon as is consistent, or to continue it, I would like to know the feeling and judgment of those who have the management of the Museum, especially of the one who has from the first furnished the inspiration and managed to have the work done. I judge by what you have often said that you wish to come to a stopping place and "close out". The material for the work -- plaster, lumber, dynamite etc we must have. The only question is that of cutting down the force of men. We have only four, and none too many to push the work as it should be done, -- at least in my judgment it would not be wise to discharge any at the present. They now understand the work and if I let them go I might yet have to employ "green" hands. Then, too, they stayed with me at the old price when laborers -- so called -- thought they were running the country and charged 10 to 20 dollars a day when they didn't earn 50 cents. We haven't had to get back to "normalcy" we stayed there. This may be aside from the point but things are different now. My men need the job now and the job needs them. As I said some time ago I thought I had things planned so I could relieve you of trouble and anxiety as to financial matters until the time to ship should come. Expert geological work commands good compensation and the work I did gave me most excellent opportunities to see anew this wonderful basin, not only as a prospective oil-field but as a study and collecting ground. I am not sorry that I have been over this ground, almost without expense to the Museum, even though I have not been able to collect all the money as promptly as I would wish. I could hardly regret it if I did not collect any more, yet it has made it hard for me personally as I have two financial battles to fight. This, however, is the reason why I am obliged at this time to ask for a special allowance to pay Museum bills which I had to incur to keep things moving. I should have been subject to censure had I not done this. As I have previously stated when I have the money I am perfectly willing to advance the deficit. I believe yet that before the end of the next month I shall be able to make my plan work. If I do it seems that it will be best for all concerned for I am out only a part of the time and can attend to the necessary things here. If I cannot do this it seems that it will be necessary, in order to rush things along, to ask at le[a]st for $100 additional to the usual allowance. We can leave this open for another month, I think, say until the middle of November. I should, at this time have $200 additional, but I will ask you at present to deposit only $150. This is for balances on wages, plaster, lumber, coal, dynamite and supplies. I will not draw checks dated earlier than Oct. 25th. This will give you time to wire if necessary. I will also write a line to Stewart so in case either of you should be absent from the Museum or a letter should be delayed you would be notified in time. Yours Truly, Earl Douglass I have financial statement made out but am waiting for two or three receipts. Please excuse haste. This is not a literary document but I hope it will carry the intended meaning.