When spring came in 1869 he went out to Granger, on the Union Pacific Railway, and there disposed of his mules and outfit, proceeding immediately to Washington, where he induced Congress to pass a joint resolution endorsed by General Grant authorising him to draw rations from Western army posts for a party of twelve men while engaged in making collections for public institutions.

Never was assistance better deserved.

Then he returned to Illinois and obtained from the trustees of the Normal University permission to again divert his salary and the other funds to Western work.

The trustees of the Illinois Industrial University allotted him five hundred dollars, and the Chicago Academy of Sciences, through the influence of Dr.Andrews, the curator, also contributed two hundred and fifty or five hundred dollars.

In addition some personal friends contributed small sums.
The object proposed was to make collections in natural history to be shared accordingly with the contributing institutions.