Tag Archives: funding

August 31, 1925 (Walter)

This letter was out of sequence in the file, so I’m inserting it at the appropriate point in the blog now (22 November 2011) and backdating it to when it should have appeared. Sorry for any confusion.

Jax Beach. Monday Night. 11PM.

My Dear Sweetheart,

We were in Jax again today on account of the new C.E. location of which I wrote you a few days ago. Your letter and also one each from Mr. Laake and Mr. Bishopp were waiting for me. Dear, you always write such good letters and I always enjoy every word. Especially did I enjoy that portion in the last letter on the wedding plans. The place seems to be settled, and the parties have been agreeable to it, so it seems to be a question of when? It doesn’t make any difference to me about whether you wear a suit or the white dress with the laces etc. I’d say “yes” and feel awfully proud of you if you wore a house apron. Just suit yourself about that, Sweetheart, and whatever you decide upon will suit me.

August 31, 1925 (Walter)

August 31, 1925 (Walter)

Mr. Laake’s letter stated that Mr. Brundrette had accepted a position with the Jr. A&M College at Stevensville and plans to leave Dallas within the next week or ten days. They are giving him an increase in salary and I believe he is getting a good place. Mr. Bishopp tried to get an increase in the Bureau for him so as to meet his offer, but I guess it could not be arranged. I am sorry that Brundy is leaving us, but I believe it is a position which he cannot afford to turn down. It will no doubt be teaching for most of the time, but he is interested in entomology as a whole and I believe he is the man for the place. He has been a good man for us and we hate to see him go.

I do not know just what the effect of Brundy’s leaving will have on my work. If his place is not filled during this fiscal year it will give us more funds for operating and in view of the need I believe it should be left open with no attempt to fill it until after next July 1st. Just how Mr. Bishopp will consider it, I do not know, but I am in hopes that he will give me a little more toward the work down here. It is possible that he may want me to join Mr. Laake in Dallas as soon as I can, but I am not so anxious for that. We have already made a contribution on creeping eruption which Dr. Cort of Johns Hopkins says is the greatest advance in human helminthology that has been reported for years. We are working on a point which is the next step in the problem and which is more important than the work of last year. I believe that Mr. Bishopp realizes this, and it so happens that I have just written him to the effect that I’d like to work on it all winter. With the chance of having funds, I rather suspect that he will be of the opinion that I can stay most of the winter. It isn’t that I do not want to be in Dallas, Dear, for I certainly do like Dallas, but I am more interested in my work here than I am in the work they are doing at Dallas. This will mean more to me and to you and I. At the present time I would not trade jobs with anyone, and when Dr. White leaves I’ll be pretty happy. He has increased the duration of his stay until the 10th. His niece is going to teach at a point (Dayton) south of here and he wants to stay until after she arrives. I told him that I’d meet her and see that she got the train out of Jax OK, but he thinks he should stay and meet her. In the mean time we will continue the studies we have under way. He says it is the most interesting piece of work he has ever been connected with, and I can’t blame him for wanting to stay. He has been quite human the past few days and we are good friends etc.

In checking over the list of home stead land, Dear, I do not find very much in the southern part of the state. I am keeping this in mind. Possibly some one down there has a notion of selling his claim so that he can sell real estate. If I can buy one reasonable & then apply my Army service in lieu of residence, it might be a good thing.

I am enclosing a little paster which came on the back of my notice from Fulford. It looks as though their race track will soon be in operation. I am anxious to know the values down there now. Before the 1st of Oct I’ll go by there.

With a real sweet kiss and a goodnight hug, I am,

Your
Walter.

August 29, 1925

Saturday Night. 8/29

My Dear Sweetheart,

Your letter did not come today, but I have tomorrow to look forward to as they always come. You are a wonderful correspondent, and nothing pleases me more than to get your letter. They always make me wish that I could give you a hug or in some way let you know that I appreciate them.

I do not know just when I will go down the state, as it depends upon how well I can get away for the trip and also I do not want to go until Dr. White leaves. He had a letter from Texas today which indicated that the work was of such a status that a visit by him would not be necessary at this time. I guess he will go to Washington from here and apparently he is in no hurry about it. He rather likes it here. I hope to make a plan pretty soon, but I rather think that he will be here all of next week. I told him tonight that I would need about a month down the state and that the sooner I could go the better it would be. He thinks that I should try for the papropriation for the fiscal year after the one beginning next July on account of the President’s economy policy. I know that it will be difficult to get one through for next year but I believe it can be done if the right tactics are used. I guess he has an idea that if I am not on a definite project next year, that possibly he could be here and work with me on C.E. again, but I have an idea that he and I will not work together again if it can be worked any other way. No doubt you get tired of my telling you about him and my troubles and I guess I shouldn’t do it, but I feel that I’d like to have you know about everything, even though some of them are not the most pleasant in the world.

August 29, 1925

August 29, 1925

There is something else I want to talk with you about, and I want to know just how you feel about it. The land in Florida is booming all over the state and where it has a water front it commands fancy prices. There are a few places in which the land has never been “taken up” under the homestead act and I understand that some are desirable though the acreage is not large & all are three miles or more from ocean fronts. Some of the tracts appear to be on or near rivers or lakes and some are located near real good roads. What I have in mind, is that I might keep an eye open when I make this trip and arrange to see what these places look like. If they look good, considering values of nearby properties and elevations, it would not cost much to file for some. To “prove up” requires three years, but my Army service would count and this would mean about 18 months. That would leave about a year and a half and I believe they require 7 months residence during each year. It would not seem a difficult matter to spend that much time on a place which looked as though it would be something when I got through “proving up.” As far as my work is concerned I believe that any arrangement which I would care to make would be satisfactory with Mr. Bishopp. As a matter of fact, the location for the Lab will be left to me anyway. The idea may not appeal to you, Dear, and when you think of it, please remember that I would not consider it if it is contrary to your wishes. If I did not believe that the land would be worth something when we had it I would not want to take the chance and trouble. I love you too much to take you where you would not have a pretty good place to live, and I intend to give you a good home. What gives me this idea is the fact that the land any place in the state is increasing very rapidly, and that on the interior, bordering lakes, it has sold for big prices. The Northern capital is coming to the state and values can’t help but increase. I feel that if there is an opportunity, I don’t want to let it go by for I want to accumulate enough to give you a home and all the comforts that go with one.

Don’t think that I am ready to file now or that I have an idea of taking you to a poor place to live, for I have no such ideas. I simply want to know how you feel about the idea. I expect to discuss all matters with you, Dear, before I take any action and I want you to tell me just what you think. I know that you will, and that is another thing that I love you for.

I love you above everyone and everything else and I want you to know it. I’ll be the happiest person in the world when I can have you with me always.

Yours – only & always,
Walter.

August 23, 1925

Jacksonville Beach, Fla.,
Sunday PM.

My Dear Sweetheart,

When it rains it pours. I had two letters this morning and I am mighty happy over them too. It seems mighty good to plan our wedding, though Dear, you are too considerate of me. To be sure, it is perfectly all right to have it at the church. All the time I have expected you to suggest that it be there, for I realize that there will be more room and too your friends whom you would not care to invite to your home would not have any reason to feel offended if it were at the church. If it were at your home it would probably mean a reception afterwards. Will this be necessary if we have it at the church? I hope not, but just as you say. It would seem that four or five o’clock in the afternoon would be a good time, and I believe that it would be well to leave shortly afterwards. Do you plan to be married in a traveling suit or would you change clothes before leaving? This is all for you to decide, and whatever you say, suits me.

August 23, 1925 (Walter)

August 23, 1925

I wish that I knew at this time whether we would come direct to Florida or whether we would live in Dallas before coming. I’d rather come down here and perhaps we could spend a little while in Dallas before coming. If we stay in Dallas for a while perhaps it would be well to have the honeymoon before going there, as we would meet quite a few people while there and I’d rather see them after we have been together more.

After I have been down the state I expect to write Mr. Bishopp and suggest what I would like to do, and I believe he will agree with me. He has promised that I could be in Johns Hopkins for about three months this winter or spring, but if we cannot get an appropriation to work on creeping eruption I don’t feel that I want to put special effort on nematodes. I would rather work on C.E. as much as possible this fiscal year and then start the new fiscal year on a problem for which we can get an appropriation. The work at Hopkins would be good regardless of what I am working on, but it would be more helpful if I went there while I had a problem for which we were getting appropriations. I’d get more out of the course. If I spend the winter and spring on C.E. I’ll get more credit on this work, and believe me I want all I am entitled to.

Mr. Bishopp is taking his work for a PhD now and I am inclined to believe that it will push him along more at this time than if he had taken it several years ago. It seems to be a good idea to get as high as possible then get the doctor’s degree for an additional push. There are a few young men in the Bureau who came to us with a doctors degree and they are getting about the same that I am. I don’t believe they will climb any faster than I will, for they are on problems of less importance and will have to show some results in order to climb.

I am not writing Mr. Bishopp at this time about spending the whole time down here, for after I have been down the state I may find a more desirable place to live where I can work on C.E. and another problem. He is inclined to stay away from the other problems until we have money for them and in that event I think it would be mighty fine for us to live here at Jax Beach until the latter part of the next June and then go down there. By that time, perhaps, I’ll have the C.E. worked up in pretty good shape.

I don’t know whether I am making all of this clear to you, Dear, but I hope you understand. Regardless of whether I come here or go to Dallas, it need not interfere with our plans of the wedding. We are going to have a little home of our own here in Florida, that is a sure thing, and I am anxious for you to be down here with me. I can probably make a pretty definite plan after I have been down the state, and have seen what they will do toward getting an appropriation. Once it is started we can ask for our requirements every year, but we can’t ask for the original appropriation, or at least we are not supposed to do it.

I am getting to where I want to see you awfully bad, Sweetheart, and I want you to know that I love you more than I can tell you.

Always your,
Walter.

Box 61

September 2, 1924

Tuesday Night

My Dear Sweetheart

I am taking the liberty to address you this way, though it sounds mighty good to be true. I hope you won’t take all the joy away by saying that it is too sweet a name for me to call you.

September 2, 1924

September 2, 1924

I have just written to my mother so she will get it the next day after Sister’s wedding. She is to be married tomorrow evening at 6:30 and I know Mother will miss her the next day. Thought I’d write so she would get it then. The affair is to be at the church and it seems to be well planned. Sister is just as happy as she can be and I am well pleased with her choice. They go to Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and I don’t know where else but they will visit his folks before going to Philadelphia, Miss. where they are to make their home. I’d certainly like to be there but it is impossible.

Mr. Bishopp has been here for 5 days and will leave tomorrow A.M. His folks are at the beach where they have been enjoying the surf. We took them to St. Augustine Sunday and they seemed to enjoy it very much.

I know that you are interested in what he thinks of my work. He realizes that it is a most puzzling malady or Dr. Kirby-Smith would have unraveled it during the past fourteen years. He seems well pleased with the progress I have made, even more pleased than I expected him to be. He does not feel certain that I have the cause unraveled, for they haven’t been able to find anything in skin sections I have sent to Washington. He believes my evidence and line of research are good and I have been greatly encouraged by him.

So far he has made only one suggestion and it is one that we attempted but failed. He wants to get guinea pigs and rabbits or mice infected, and we hardly think it possible but are trying further experiments. Our observations have led us to believe that they enter (sebaceous) sweat glands and the fact that the lower animals have none, has led us to discard the idea until he revived it. They may possibly enter the hair follicles but we doubt it. However, the tests will be made with more pigs and rabbits and we will satisfy ourselves on this point. Mr. B thinks the work will require several years and with other problems in this state, I may have a lab down here. I don’t think there will be any difficulty in getting the appropriation but we would like to have it in our own Bureau if possible. As soon as the Senator comes home Dr. KS and I are going to impress upon him that it should be made through our Dept.

I’ll be here the rest of this month on creeping eruption and the next month I’ll make a survey of the southern part of the state on other problems. That will probably take about 10 days. Mr. B had planned that I would be in the Uvalde section this month but the work is pressing here and it does not seem to be so plentiful with Parman just now. It is too dry for many cases here but I need just such a period of good work on the ones we do have.

I hope to hear from you soon, Dear, and here’s hoping I can call you Sweetheart, for I love you and you mean lots and lots to me. I hope you will try to love me a wee bit anyway.

With a sweet goodnight,

Always
Walter

August 13, 1924

Jacksonville, Fla.
Aug 13, 1924

My Dear Ina,

Yours came this morning and it did me a world of good all day. I am by myself for a few days, as Dr. K.S. went to Tenn. for a little visit with the family. The dope I have been getting during the past two days tends to increase the possibilities in this investigation, and you can imagine what the effect is. Just about the time it looked as though I had the dope on the origin of cases, I get records of cases occurring away from where any one lives. It makes one feel that he don’t know so much about it after all. This usually happens on a problem study, and it takes a nice letter from a little girl just like you to make everything seem rosy. I always enjoy your letters so much, and it seems that I’ve known you always.

August 13, 1924

August 13, 1924

I, too, wish that I could have been with you at the “shut in.” I’ve got something to tell you when I see you.

I often look at the Kodak pictures and I would like very much to borrow your negatives for two of them. One of yourself sitting on the ground and the other a standing profile with your left hand near your waist line, palm out. Can you figure out which two? If not, send as many as you like and I’ll pick out the two I would like to borrow. These two would enlarge to a 5×7 inch size very nicely and as the photo man here is unusually good I’d like to have him make them for me. Will have him make an extra for yourself and your mother. I hope you can find them for I really want them and will be looking for them in your next letter. Please.

It was too bad about your friend’s accident, and I am sorry for him. It might have been his fiance.

I am certainly in hopes that I can see you next month and it is possible that I’ll be there. I’ll know when Mr. Bishopp comes down. There has been no allotment or appropriation for this work and it is possible that he will not care to divert other money for this purpose. We had in mind to determine the scope of the field of work and having found that it came within the domain of our Bureau, to ask for special funds next year. We do not yet know whether the project should be ours or not, but we hope to know before long. On the face of it, it would naturally seem to be our field, but we may find that it logically falls under some other Bureau’s work. It may be a co-operative project with some other Bureau, but I hope not for that simply means dividing the credit for the work with some one else. Dr. K.S. says he “don’t give a damn” if some other Bureau is supposed to do it, he wants me here, and if necessary will go thru his senator to have me attached to the Bureau under whose domain the work naturally falls. He says we can work it out and that we won’t need any other assistance.

It is really an important problem and every one who knows the disease is anxious to help in any way possible. Lots of them have spent more than a hundred dollars for treatments which were only partly satisfactory. Several months have been required in some cases. The thing is absolutely new in literature as there has been nothing published to give the least idea of the cause.

I do not work with a fear of getting the creeping eruption, for our treatment is so effective and simple that I can use it as a preventive. In fact the treatment is too simple to be profitable to the medical profession.

I hope to have a nice long letter from you soon, Dear, if I may call you this.

Kind regards to all, I am,

Sincerely
Walter.

July 31, 1924

153 Powell Place
Jacksonville, Florida

July 31, 1924

Dear Ina,

I have a few minutes to write a note and feel that I owe you a lengthy letter, but what I lack in length perhaps I can make up in numbers. For I certainly don’t want you to misunderstand me. I have thought of you just the same and I have wondered if I am going to get through early enough to be in Uvalde this Fall. I certainly won’t complete the work, but may return because there has been no appropriation for this work. It will probably require work for a few years and I imagine the bulk of the work will be done when we have special money for it. At this stage of the game we cannot say that it falls under the domain of our Bureau, but I hope that I can finish it. The importance is greater than it might seem.

July 31, 1924

July 31, 1924

We are using a treatment which Dr. Roark suggested with good results and it simplifies matters. Previously it has required sometimes as long as a year in extreme cases. Lots of the treatments have been so drastic that they were worse than the malady.

Mr. Bishopp will return from Washington about the 24th and will stop with me for a few days. I also expect Dr. Hunter to spend a day or two with me on his way to Washington, which will probably be about the 15th.

I want you to know that while I am busy, I think of you lots and wish for you. I can’t help but believe you would enjoy it very much if you were here. It is so different, so beautiful, and much cooler than the weather we had at Uvalde.

Kindly remember me to your Mother, Sis & Dad and write me a nice long letter. Please?

Sincerely,

W.E.D.
500 Professional Bld.