[written on the Biltmore letterhead]

7⁴⁵ PM, Tuesday

Dearest love:

Well, time is going by slowly - my trip is half over, and each day brings me closer to you. I love you. Your Thursday letter came this morning, with Crellins. I hope that he is over his rash. You hadn't yet got my telegram about the extra ten days.

The Russians are still going strong (see clipping). Everyone here is hopeful of an early end to Germany - a sudden collapse would not surprise people, but no one is willing to say that the Germans might not hold out for [inside right hand side] months.

I slept all right last night, but I have a trace of a cold. I think that it won't develop. It is cold here, but warmer than last week. I got up at 9, and went out to the Presbyterian Hospital to talk to Bill Palmer, the chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee. He is a nice fellow - about 60, white-haired. There are only seven members of the committee, including Daisy and me as non-medical ones - I'm the only one not in a medical school, and the only western representative. There are three [lefthand side of page] committees altogether: the medical one, a committee of 17 (Isaiah Bowman, chairman) on pure science, and another with Moe as chairman on discovering and developing scientific talent in American youth. These committees are to prepare reports to the President.

I went to lunch with Palmer + Turner. Joe Koepfli [?] was there too. Then I visited Dr Brand (a protein chemist), Gregorson (physiologist) and Roughton, and at 4 ³⁰ came back to the hotel. Moe brought me some mail. He has a cold. I went to the Grand Central station + bought my ticket to Boston (for a meeting there on [back of page] Saturday), and then went to a newsreel theater till 7, and came to my room. The maid has just made the bed - they are short of help.

Now I shall read a bit and then go to sleep. Tomorrow I shall visit the Rockefeller Institute.

I love you, darling.

Your own

Paddy

Dear Peter: I thank you very much for making the candied walnuts for me.

Daddy

Love to Linda and Crellie.

January 31, 1945

Dr. S. S. Prentiss

107 Engineering Building

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dear Dr. Prentiss:

I wish to refer to my letters of July 27, 1944 and November 7, 1944 regarding the disposition of the Oxygen Meters developed under our Contract OEMsr-584, and to your letter of November 4, 1944 authorizing us to send some of the meters to you.

We have just shipped two Model K meters to you at the Central Engineering Laboratory, 107 Engineering Building, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. The crate which is labelled "No. 1" contains the 450 to 760 mm. instrument, and the crate which is labelled "No. 4" contains the 0 to 45 mm. instrument. Both meters are in carrying boxes which also contain confidential instruction sheets. The manufacturing operations which were necessary in obtaining the 450 to 760 mm. range in Meter No. 1 may have affected the stability of the calibration of that meter; consequently it is advisable to check the calibration frequently.

Dr. Reuben E. Wood has informed me that you have asked him about the present status of our "Airplane Model" of the Oxygen Meter, which we have designated as Model L, and that the Naval Bureau of Aeronautics has expressed some interest in the instrument. In one of my previous letters I indicated that this meter contains a defective suspension and should not be sent out in its present form. I have recently asked Dr. A. O. Beckman whether his group might undertake the job of replacing the present suspension with a satisfactory one. This would also involve the preparation of a new calibrated scale. He agreed to examine the meter and make an estimate of the cost of this job. I suggest that you communicate with him regarding a contract for this job and that you specify the range of oxygen partial pressure that you desire for the meter. When the meter is provided with a satisfactory suspension and scale it should be ready to be sent out for testing.

It appears that we can make good use of a sensitive oxygen meter in our hemoglobin research program under our Contract OEMsr-153. One of the Model K meters which we have manufactured under Contract OEMsr-584 has a linear range of 0 to 85 mm. of oxygen partial pressure and could be used for this purpose. We would like to keep this meter here and to turn over the two unfinished Model K meters to Dr. Beckman for completion, experimentation, or salvage.

Would you kindly let me know whether the above arrangements are satisfactory to you?

Sincerely yours,

Linus Pauling

LP:fh