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application or proposal, and as I know just what I want you will pardon me for giving a rough draft of it here:- To Hon. J. D. Cox, Sec'y. of the Interior or [underline] Hon. Eli Parker, Con'r. Indian Affairs Washington [underline] " In the event of his leaving the service, under the recent law, Captain Henry E. Alvord, U.S.A. desires to perform for your Department all the Surveys of Indian Reservations in Kansas and the Indian Territory. Capt. Alvord was Adjutant of my present regiment during its organization and subsequently Captain, serving with the regiment about [strike] over three [strike] two years, all of this time in Kansas and this Territory. While on duty as Inspector General of this District upon my staff, in connection with special Indian duties which were assigned to him, and afterwards as Chief Engineer under Gen'l. Sheridan during his Indian operations here in 1868-9. Captain Alvord thoroughly informed [strike] acquainted himself with the topography of this entire section of country, made an excellent map of the Territory, became personally well known to the Chiefs and head-men of all the different tribes in the Territory, and was by [strike] particularly fortunate and successful in his dealings with them. He has thus become peculiarly fitted for the service he now seeks to perform. He served near me long enough for me to become well satisfied as to his [3 words striked] personally and officially, as to his character and capability and _______ _______ _______

   So far I have only stated facts known to you, in a form which I do not think you will object to - these points which I desire particularly to cover, being attended to, of course, I leave entirely to you  the statement of your opinion as the these other [2 words underlined] points:-viz:-