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November 22, 1934

Commissioner R.W. Dempwolf
U.S. Coast Guard
Seattle, Washington

Dear Commander Dempwolf: -

You have been missed by your friends about New York. We spent last evening with Commander and Mrs. Jones, and you, Mrs. Dempwolf and Mrs. McDonald were much in our thought. We hope you are very happy in your own home and all in the best of health. Commander and Mrs. Jones had a pleasant and restful vacation motor trip south in October. Both are looking and feeling very well. 

You may be surprised at how far along my plans are for a trip to the Kuskokwim. I have planned with the aid of Dr. Hrdlicka of the Smithsonian Institute and hope to leave home about June 15th to make Bethel our headquarters. Donald will go with me. There is so much detail to be straightforward out. First, will be to decide re: our transportation up. I am making inquiry about S.S. Tupper, Dr. Hrdlicka seems to feel that she makes trips each month from May to August, leaving about the middle of the month.. If so, we should want to passage on the June trip. I shall also have to send a boat measuring about 24 ft. x 9 ft. x 18 inches draft, and fuel, oil, provisions etc. Would it be asking too much to have your secretary secure this information for me? 

When we discussed the possibility of this cruise, if I remember correctly, you offered to help me secure a suitable boat and this is the first problem to solve.  Dr. Hrdlicka insists that 18 inches is the maximum draft permissible because of the mud flats and shallowness of the rivers. We plan to work south from Bethel on the east bank to Kwinak and Arolik, then cross to the peninsula to the westward as far as the Kinak River above Cape Avinof. We shall then work back toward Bethel exploring the rivers in search of native villages in the tundra region. There are about 3500 natives in this region including Nelson Island and up as far as Hooper Bay. If all goes well, we shall hope to return the following year. 

Now about the boat. I have in mind a plain, sturdy little cabin cruiser about 24 x 9 x 18" or less with 5'10" headroom. The cockpit about 10 ft., a cabin of 14 ft. providing a toilet in the bow, two pipe beds that fold up against the sides, and a small galley. I hope to get a Moravian Missionary and perhaps a native to accompany us from Bethel, and they can sleep on pneumatic beds in the cockpit deck. The engine will be placed in the stern close to the transom and connected to a stern drive, circular for which is enclosed. I now have in mind a 40 H.P., 4 cylinder Lysoming gas engine but any engine can be hooked to the G-W stern drive. I have in mind a flat bottom boat, sharpened underneath toward the bow something after the Hand V bottom type, and tapered up slightly at the stern to allow the propeller and rudder to swing clear without extending below the keel.

I presume such an unusual craft will have to be built and Seattle will be the place to have it done economically. I am having plans drawn.  Should you have any suggestions, I should be grateful for them before the plan is made. When they are completed, may I send them to you for suggestions? The boat will have to be of the plain, staunch fishing type with no mahogany or bright work. Economy will have to be the word as I shall have to do the financing myself. I do hope I am not imposing toomuch. Mrs. Waugh joins me in sending best regards to all. 
Yours very truly

LMW.J
L. M. Waugh, Professor of Dentistry