Box 15, Folder 6: Geological Survey 1873

[Top half of page: crossed out calculations, etc.] 1.25 [specific?] gravity 78 1/8 lbs weight of a cubic foot.

Specific Gravity of Bit Coal varies from 1.2 to 1.5- This is therefore among the lightest of such coal.- In this respect agrees most nearly with the coals of Newcastle, England, and of Pittsburgh Pa.

Natural Whitewash- Found on St. Croix river [a]nd Wisconsin side opposite Arcola Mill-about at foot of lake 3 miles from the river. Used whiteout addition.

5 [u.d.]

[Wisconsin compared with other States' in soils like]

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It will be seen that in many important particulars Wisconsin bears a close analogy to the state of New York. We have a similar primary, elevated, region at the north; and south of us is the coal basin of Illinois corresponding to that of Pennsylvania.

We have the same silurian rocks extending from the Potsdam sandstone to the Cornigerous limestone inclusive; and we have [even] also, running nearly through the state, a very remarkable prolongation of the same "Mountain ridge" that in Western New York causes the great cataracts of Niagara, the Gennesee &c.; and it is composed of rocks of the same geological age.

Those therefore who have studied the very valuable reports of the geologists and agriculturists of that great

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state will readily understand the geological and agricultural resources of Wisconsin.

19.

There are numerous natural meadows scattered over a large share of the state, covered annually with a rich growth of a coarse kind of grass (species of the genus Carex) which constitute a very valuable resource in the early settlement of the country. These meadows furnish the "feed" for cattle &c. until farms can be opened properly; and they have been one of the essential causes of the very rapid growth of our state in population and wealth. Without their aid the farming interests of the state would have been far behind what it is at the present time. These meadows can, with proper management be easily covered with "tame grasses" and thus add still more to our means of wealth.

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Many of these natural meadows and many of the tamarack swamps are underlaid by [beds] extensive beds of peat resting upon equally extensive beds of shell marl. These beds constitute a great Bank not liable to be broken or suspend [payment?] from which the draw future supplies of the food of plants, whenever our present soils shall exhibit signs of exhaustion in consequence of over-cropping or of injudicious management on the part of the farmer.

There is a species of wild grass * growing very abundantly in the woods in some portions of the state, (whose long coarse leaves retain their life and nutritious qualities during the winter), that has rendered essential service in hastening our rapid progress, by reducing the labor and expense necessary, in wintery stock in a newly settled country. It prefers high & dry soil, but will not flourish, except in the shade of forest trees.

* Mountain rice Oryzopsis arpenfolia, of much aux