Letters Received to H.H. Barker, July 2, 1932

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI COLUMBIA DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY July 2d, 1932 Mr. H. H. Barker 346 Richmond Avenue SPECIAL DELIVERY South Orange, New Jersey My dear Barker: I am very much interested in the opening sentence of your letter of June 30th, stating that you are taking a vacation beginning July lst. Now, let me tell you that a vacation in South Orange and New York is really not a proper way for an enterprising business man to indulge. So I respectfully offer a substitute proposition which I trust will be of interest to you and I feel that besides being active in business you still retain 8. very active interest in pure scientific research. As soon as we can get ready the apparatus I expect to start out for Hot Springs, Arkansas to make some tests for thoron, radon, and dissolved radium in some of the springs there. We shall also try to collect samples of the tufa which forms around some of the springs. This tufa in a few springs has an activity equivalent to the presence of about 5% U308 according to our neasurements made 25 years ago. Does the tufa contain an equilibrium quantity of uranium? We are inclined to think that the uranium probably is not pre- sent in the tufa. Is the ionium present? In short, we are studying present-day geological processes in the deposition of radioactive substances, hoping that this will throw some light on the processes which took place millions of years ago. We invite you to join the party; please report for duty on Sunday, July 10th. I shall try to get ready by that time. Perhaps Mrs. Barker would con- sent to come along and serve as general manager and cook for the party. With kindest greetings, I remain, Sincerely yours, Herman Schlinett hs.as Herman Schlundt. expidition ! Pleasy have suff ceent newbills with you to fenano oe the