Letter from Israel C. Russell to John Muir, 1892 Feb 5.

• Main Author: Russell, Israel C.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Scholarly Commons 1892
• Subjects: Environmentalist; naturalist; travel; conservation; national parks; John Muir; history; correspondence; letters; glaciers; Alaska
• Online Access: https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/142; https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/context/muir-correspondence/article/1141/viewcontent/muir07_0449_md_1.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORUNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEYGEOLOGIC BRANCHWashington, D. C, February 5, 1892.Prof. John Muir,Martinez, California.My dear Sir:Prof. Ch. Dufour, of the University of Lausanne, Morges, Switzerland, has recently addressed a letter to the Director of the U. S. Geological Survey, asking for information regarding recent changes in the glaciers of America. Prof. Dufour's letter has been referred to me, with request that I assemble all available data bearing on the advance and retreat of the glaciers of this country.As you are more familiar than any one else with the glaciers of the Sierra Nevada, I wish to ask if you will kindly inform me if they have advanced or retreated since you first became acquainted with them. I should like also to obtain similar information concerning the glaciers of Alaska. The more definite this information can be made the better it will be for the purposes in view.Prof. Dufour has published a brochure on the glaciers of Europe in which it is shown that they are now retreating, and wishes especially to learn if a similar charge is taking place in the01552 J M 2:glaciers in America.Any information which you may furnish will be duly acknowledged in publication, and any suggestions of climatic changes bearing on the discussion referred to will receive careful attention. I am confident that from your extended travels and careful observations you are in a position to cooperate very advantageously in this investigation, and trust that you may find time to write at least an abstract of your conclusions.My report on last year's work in Alaska is nearly ready for publication, and I trust will be of interest to you. The question of renewing work in Alaska is now under consideration but has not been fully decided. If I do not revisit the St. Elias region this summer, I certainly shall a year later for the purpose of completing the work already begun.Hoping to hear from you at your earliest convenience, I remain with all good wishes,Your sincere friend,[illegible]