My dear Stewart:



Dr. Merrill telegraphed from Washington asking if I would give him an estimate of the time and money required to get out and ship the two skeletons of Diplodocus.  I replied, giving this estimate as nearly as I could, with things going as they are now with the experienced crew.  Later he wrote me and I sending to you with this a copy of my reply.  Of course I coudl only present the conditions as I see them at this end.



I have been busy trying to line up things for shipping, endeavoring to get the minimum rate to the railroad etc.  I went to Craig and things seem to appear favorable for getting some reduction from the rate before quoted, but I am not all certain about it yet.  It is about the same distance -- perhaps a little farther to Price on the D & R G R R and I gave them   that we would ship the way that we could get the best rate.



I was on the point of wiring you to see if you had tried the D& R G for free transportation.  They granted it the last shipment.  This would cut out all expense on railroad to Denver at least and there would be little difference in freight haul to price for about $1.35 but there would be charge for storage and loading.  At Craig the station agent thinks there is no doubt that we would get storage free in good fire proof warehouse.  I think yet that by Craig will be the way to ship especially if the D & R G has turned free transportation