Outgoing Correspondence from Robert Ridgway, June 24, 1867

              u.s geological exploration of fortieth parallel camp no 1 sacramento cal june 24th 1867 my dear mother i have been so very busy collecting ever since we have been here that i have just found time to write home i hope you will forgive me for delaying it so long i believe in my last i promised to give a short account of our voyage from new york to san francisco want of the requisite space compels me to abridge my account to the smallest possible limit:--88 we landed at san francisco june 2nd.89 part of our party put up at the occidental,"90 but i and the greater part pat stopped at the dick house this is the finest hotel i ever saw and beside is very cheap fare being 2.50 in gold per day in cincinnati i paid 3 we stopped there two days and in the evening of the 5th took the splendid river steamer yosemite for sacramento we arrived here early next morning and proceeded immediately out to our camp which was already established and some of our party there i have been enjoying myself finely ever since i have been here and have made large collections i go out