6 Page Autographed Letter, January 1, 1867, much on Science
Item #025986
The six page letter from Edward Charles Pickering who was soon to be appointed Professor of Physics at MIT, to his friend and classmate at the Lawrence Scientific School. Much of this letter is technical with exact formulas which require a serious background in advanced mathematics. He notes Rankin's formula in detail and notes the integration of 689 which he thinks is lacking the minus sign. Notes on issues of hydraulics, that while he knows little about back water, he should use the formula of D'Aubuisson de Voisins, Jean-Francois, (1769-1941) and many other details. He goes on to note that Wisbach deals with this and the works on river improvements by W.A. Brooks, E.H. Color and J. White are helpful as well as the common works on hydraulics which can be obtained from the Astor Library. He sends some work for the photographs his friends had sent but would like images of the Minneapolis Bridge for Prof. Eustis [Henry Lawrence, 1819-1885] whether or not stereoscopic. He made his first appearance in public giving an account of the Washington Aqueduct at the Institute of Technology [the future MIT where he would in a few months be appointed as Professor Physics there]. We have transcribed part of the letter in more detail though not as complete as the images on our website.
Price: $375.00