Search: Wallace (née Greenell), Mary Ann in addressee 
Alfred Russel Wallace in collection 
1850-1859::1853 in date 
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Text Online
From:
John Wallace
To:
Mary Ann Wallace (née Greenell)
Date:
1 December 1853
Source of text:
  • Natural History Museum, London: NHM WP1/3/96/14
  • Wallace Family Collection (private collection)
Summary:

One of a set of letters providing in-depth descriptions John Wallace's life in the gold mining town of Columbia, California, building a system to bring water to gold mining operations in the town.

Contributor:
Alfred Russel Wallace Correspondence Project
Text Online
From:
John Wallace
To:
Mary Ann Wallace (née Greenell)
Date:
18 July 1853
Source of text:
  • Wallace Family Collection (private collection)
  • Natural History Museum, London: NHM WP1/3/106
Summary:

In response to family requests for his picture as a rough, full-bearded miner, has had a Deguerreotype [sic] of himself made “in a medium state...passing from the rough barbarian state of early Californian life to the more peaceful and mild state of civilization.” Emphasizes that he is not a miner, but chief Engineer to the Toulumne County Water Company which supplies great quantities of necessary water in to hundreds of mines. Happy to report that his Company is a success. Requests picture of them in turn. Brother helped him (by letter) calculate the amount of water discharged to be 11 ½ million gallons every 24 hours. Describes system of reservoir and delivery system, which frequently is disrupted, sometimes flooding the town. Expresses interest in fad for mind over matter experiment, later known as telekinsesis.

Contributor:
Alfred Russel Wallace Correspondence Project