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Wisgeaalsin/

November 19, 1947.

Tear Kim & B3arbera-

A bit of a lull has cone over my work today, mostly because
a chest cold made it difficult for me to concentrate on it, and
this gives me time to write to you.

The post here is a good one, or will be when it is entirely
integrated and the new lab is set up, budget straightcned out,&e.
Meantizie, I am trying to work as best I can in a ratier impro-
vised setup. Such things as water baths, incubators, refrigerator
space and so on have to be borrowed from other labs here in the
Genetics building, md while everyone has been most coopexative
4t still makes it di’ricult to work efficiently. I have bern spen-
ding most effort on collecting ferpantation mutants in =. coll
for comparative stucies on enzyinic specifities. I have te mutants
now (cuite a few lactose- and maltose- negatives) but am impeded
mostly ty need for ‘arburg equipment and the like for the measure-
ment of enzyme activities, I oan't do very much work on mutant
tranfformations wntil I can get some better facilities for growing
and collecting large quantities of bacteria. These will be provided
for (except that the inflation wreaks havoc witr. any kind of
budget one can write-- prices change while items are on orderit)
but the delivery situation on scientific equipment is very poor
even nOoWe

There is no teaching to speak of-- 1 hrs' quiz scotion in elemen-
tary genetics, and an informal scninar in microbial genetics which
4s going over very well now. There 4s a lot of disperse interest.
on this campus in these issues, and this seninar seems to de orya-
tallizing it out.If there were more reom in the physioal plant
there would be better chance for expansion, but this is the most
serious single limiting factore- a3 4% is in every othex university.

As you know, the 4AAS is meeting in Chicago this Christmas. Is
there any vhance of your being dnterested enough to oome? Or is that
not when KGA/III is expected. How is the youngster getting on?

We haven't found a decent place to live yet unfortunately, but
prospects do appear occasionally an« I hope to be settlea before
too long. Meanwhile we have not unconfortable quarters in the ‘Univer:
sity Nousing project at Truaxz Field outside the catg, more orcless
comparable to the Camp Shanks project. Give our best to FJRp and
the gang, and let's here from you.

Sincerely,