I have just returned from the Yo Semite. During my absence yoursof June 11 th arrived, with the photograph, which we are glad to have, but which Mrs Olmsted bids me say, does not do you justice.

I have today a letter from Mr Willey asking what outlay would berequired for the survey which I proposed should be made on the College grounds and which he thinks of having made at the same time with a survey and plat of an extension of the College Homestead Tract, which will soon be needed. I have replied that I have advised you fully what I should need with reference to a study for the “Park” grounds, and that I prefer that he should deal directly with you for the survey, which I presume that you will now be able to undertake whenever necessary on the same terms, as those made with the Cemetery Company.

I hope that you are now engaged upon the final map of the Cemetery, and that except the planting it is nearly complete. I hope that Mr Willey will call upon you immediately and engage you to make the survey, and that you will lose no time in starting upon it. I think I shall come to San Francisco in course of three weeks and should be glad to have you so far advanced upon it that we can make a preliminary study with some degree of accuracy and confidence.

The point of chief difficulty is to determine where and how the central College buildings should be situated. You will remember what my views were. I would place them if possible near the point A (on the map enclosed) upon a terrace fronting toward the Golden Gate, from the centre of which it would be practicable to construct a broad level avenue on the flat ground between the hills, in a line with the Golden Gate.The difficulty is to make a symetrical arrangment of buildings and terraces or to obtain a sufficiently large plateau for the buildings, in this situation, without excessive expense. You had better direct your attention first to this point. The avenue must range somewhere between the lines C.E. and E.B. Thepoint A is thus fixed within narrow limits from North [399]

Edward C. Miller

If we can once satisfy ourselves as to the proper site and arrangments of buildings and terraces and of the grand avenue between them and the main road from Oakland, the rest will be comparatively plain sailing. Your survey will need to be made only upon the ground which I have colored, as the old map, gives us the rest of the ground so far as it goes with sufficient accuracy. Besides this, however, there is the region [400]marked G. of which I know little which is not included on the old [map] and which Mr Willey considers the most attractive ground. Of this I suppose you will need to make a complete survey with contour lines of ten, or perhaps five feet, if the plan is likely to be complicated. You can judge at a glance how this is. Then there is the reconnaisance to be made up the valley, with reference to a road through the “milk ranch,” which you thought, if I recollect rightly, would occupy you for a fortnight.

You had better propose to Mr Willey to go with you to the ground; let him point out to you the ground G, which you have not yet seen. Then ride once more over the whole and estimate the time you will require to make all the survey necessary for my purpose, and, also, what you will need for the other work he wants (if any) with reference to the Homestead lots. By making all the use practicable of the old map, and merely levelling anew and more closely the ground which I have colored, I think that you can get all that I require in a month.

The old map, together with your architectural periodicals, I left with Mr Field to be given to you. I presume they are at the Geological rooms. If not Mr Ashburner will give them to you.

Mr. Pieper arrived this morning from Stockton, in high spirits, I think, having been very fortunate in establishing his family in a nice house in a pleasant garden & with very agreeable people, at moderate expense, & having good prospects of employment from Mr Meader. All which rejoices me, very much, as you may suppose.

The question of your pay can be left till I come down, I suppose, as well as not. Mr Pieper does not seem to care about the forty dollars at present.

Mr Vaux has made me a handsome offer to return and help him layout the Brooklyn park, but I cannot leave California at present.