Box 15, Folder 7: Geological Survey ISR (?) Report 1874

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To His Excellency

Wm. R. Taylor,

Governor:

I now have ^now the honor to report the progress made and the & results attained of the Geological Survey of the State of Wisconsin, up to the close of the year 1873 ; made in accordance with the requirements of the law approved March 19, 1873, providing for that survey ; and to present herewith embracing the report of Prof. R. D Irving of explorations made in the counties of Ashland, Bayfield and Douglass on Lake Superior ; the report of Prof T. C. Chamberlin in the central part of the state, extending from Walworth to Shawano Counties ; and the report of Mr. Moses Strong, chiefly within the Lead region in the south western portion of the state.

Very Respectfully

I. A. Lapham

Chief Geologist.

Milwaukee

January 5th 1874

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As required by the act "to provide for a complete Geological Survey of Wisconsin" approved March 19th 1873, I now have the honor to report the progress made, and the results attained during the first year of the Survey, and also to lay before you the maps, profiles and drawings, necessary to Exemplify the same.

Requirements of the law.

In addition to the geological survey proper, to which alone the title refers, and which is defined to be an Examination of the geological structure of the State, including the dip, number, magnitude, order and relative position of the various strata, their richness in useful materials, the accessibility of such materials for mining and manufacture; with a chemical analysis of rocks +building stone; this law also provides for Mineralogical Agricultural and Topographical surveys.

The Mineralogical Survey Contemplates an Examination of the minerals to be found

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in the state, their geological relations; with chemical analysis and arrays of such as possess useful qualities, such the various ores, clays, peats, marls, & ^the mineral waters, fertilizers, + building stone.

The Agricultural Survey includes an examination of the soils and subsoils, observations upon the animal and vegetable productions with reference to agricultural interests, & the chemical analysis of ferlilizers [fertilizers].

The Topographical Survey is to include a careful survey of the topography of the lead region, for the purpose of ascertaining, as far as possible the amount of denudation, and the exact position of the mining ground at each locality ; topographical surveys of such other portions as may be deemed necessary for the thorough completion of the work ; also careful barometrical observations on the relative elevation and depression of the various parts of the sate.

The work is to be made thorough and complete.

It is made the duty of the geologist

Besides the proper work of these several surveys, the law requires the collection of ^specimens of rocks, ores, fossils minerals +c to be deposited with the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences arts and Letters; the State University; and with such ^incorporated Colleges and normal schools as should 2 make application for the same before the commencement of the field work.

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The survey is was required to be commenced by the first day of June 1873, or as soon thereafter as practicable, beginning with the counties of Ashland and Douglas, bordering upon Lake superior; and the entire survey must be completed within four years from that time.

To carry out the provisions of this law, the Governor is required to appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, a Chief Geologist, and upon his recommendation, the Governor shall appoint not exceeding four assistants ; the Chief geologist and his assistants to constitute a geological corps to perform the work of the survey.

It is made the duty of the Chief Geologist and his assistants, on or before the of each year during the continuance of the survey, first Monday in January^ to make to the Governor a report of the progress and results of the survey, accompanied by such maps, profiles, and drawings as may be necessary to exemplify the same, which the governor shall lay before the Legislature.

The chief geologist is further required to make a final report, including the results of the entire survey, accompanied by such drawings and topographical maps as may be necessary to illustrate the same; and by a single geological [geological] map, showing by colors + other appropriate means 1st the stralification [stratification] of the rocks, the localities of the beds

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3 of mineral deposits, and the character & Extent of the different formations.

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Such are the ^clearly defined duties required to be performed; clearly defined, and it is the object of this first annual report to show what progress has been made and what results have been reached up to the close of the year 1873.

Organization of the geological corps.

Governor C.C. Washburn by commission dated the tenth day of April 1873 appointed the undersigned Chief Geologist under the provisions of this important law.,

On the 29th day of the same month

Professor Roland D. Irving, A.M., E.M.

Professor T. C. Chamberlin, A.M. and

Mr. Moses Strong A.M.

Were ^upon the recommendation of ^the chief geologist appointed as Assistants in the survey. Professor W. W. Daniells M.S. - was also engaged to do make such chemical examinations and analyses of ores + minerals + as might be needed for the survey. By an arrangement with the Regents of the State University Prof. Daniells is to have the use of the apparatus belonging to the institution without ^additional Expense to the survey.

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