Box 4, Folder 5: Miscellaneous Typewritten Letters

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-gratulate you on the opportunity you have of developing so rapidly the geology of the state and thus, the geology of the Northwest; and also to congratulate the state on the fact that thus the labor of a great many years on the Geology of the state is saved to the state by making it available in the prosecution of the survey. It would have been a great mistake to have a man imported, where you, who have been so long on the ground, have so much in your field books unpublished.***

I venture to hope you will give directions to your assistants to help the solution of the vexed questions of the age of the red sandstone called Potsdam in New York (in my opinion) by a diligent search for fossils in it.***

Very respectfully,

N.H. Winchell.

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Milwaukee, Wis. May 3, 1873.

Gen. A.A. Humphreys, Chief of Engineers--

Dear Sir--

The law recently passed, providing for a complete geological survey of Wisconsin, contemplates the construction of a geological and topographical map of the state, and it is desirable to have it made from the best and most accurate sources of information. It is well known that the public land surveys, though very useful and exceedingly well adapted to the purposes for which they were made, are not of that degree of accuracy that is desirable.

To remedy this defect we shall soon have the very accurate results of the Lake Survey, along our northern and eastern

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borders and it becomes very desirable to have that survey extended into the interior and western portions of the state, at least so far as to determine the position in latitude and longitude of one or more points in each county.

Of the 58 counties, 18 are already reached by the Lake Survey, 28 others are accessible by railroads and telegraphs, leaving only 12 not so easily reached.

If this should seem to be asking too much of the general government it may still be within its province to determine accurately the position of the governing lines of the public land surveys and thus give additional value and importance to that work.***

There are four points upon or near the Principal Meridian already accessible by railroad and telegraph. They are Galena, on the Illinois Central, Muscoda and Tomah on the two divisions of the Milwaukee and St. Paul, and Brighton on the Wisconsin Central railroad.

Of course it would be necessary to connect the positions determined, as well as those heretofore determined by the Lake Survey, with the nearest section corner of the public land surveys. Such connection would materially help to preserve a knowledge of these points for future reference, the land surveys being usually the boundaries of estates, which it is the interest of the owners to preserve.

Learning that officers under your direction are about to engage in making determinations of latitude and longitude at the west, it occurs to me that it might meet the requirements of the government, to extend their work into Wisconsin and thus accomplish the object above indicated.

I take the liberty in view of the importance of the matter to address you this letter for the purpose of asking whether

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any such work can or will be done on the part of the United States thus securing greater accuracy to the maps of our country and incidentally aiding the Wisconsin Geological Survey.

Very respectfully yours,

I.A. Lapham,

Chief Geologist.

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Washington, May 19, 1873.

Dr. I.A. Lapham, Chief Geologist of Wisconsin,

Dear Sir,-

Your letter of the 3rd transmitted by Governor Washburn is received. In reply I beg to inform you that directions were issued to Major Comstock.*** to aid you in the survey of the state in accordance with your request.*** Major Comstock was authorized to determine a sufficient number of points in the interior of the state to fix the location of the "4th Principal Meriden" and the three "Correction Lines".****

To this extent, it has been considered this Department could properly go, defraying the expenses principally from the appropriation for military surveys, in view of the use that may be made of the data thus obtained, in the correction and improvement of our military map of the Western Territories. But any considerable extension of expense could not be incurred without the sanction of Congress.***

Should no appropriation be made it will still give me pleasure to authorize any assistance to be given to your work by the Lake Survey that can be justified by the express or implied limitations of appropriations, available for surveys under this Department.

Very respectfully, Your obedt. servt. A.A. Humphreys, Brig. Gen. & Chief of Engineers.

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Milwaukee, May 3rd, 1873.

Professor Roland D. Irving, Ass't. Geologist,

Dear Sir,--

The Governor having commissioned you as one of the Assistants in the Geological Survey of Wisconsin you will proceed to organize a party and supply yourselves with the necessary outfit and instruments to explore the iron and copper ranges in Ashland County, commencing the field work as soon after the first of June as possible.

It will be your duty, besides examining the iron and copper ore and their relation to the adjoining rock formations, with a view to discoveries in other districts, to note also all facts throwing any light upon any of the special matters required to be considered in the law authorizing the survey.

While it is not intended to prescribe in detail, what you are to do, much in this respect being left to your own judgment and discretion, I may call your attention to a few points of special importance.

The relative age of the Red Sandstone with its accompanying red shale has not been fully ascertained and hence all facts showing whether it is of the age of the Potsdam sandstone or nor, should be carefully noted.

Whether the azoic rocks are of different ages should be ascertained; the more crystalline being supposed to be older than those of a slaty structure &c.

It is a matter of great importance to the mining interests to study the system of folding of these strata, involving the question whether the iron beds continue to great depths into the earth or whether they soon terminate.

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Note such facts as show the natural fertility of the soil, especially as indicated by actual cultivation and by animal and vegetable products.

You will not be required to collect, in remote localities, any more specimens than are needed for examination and analysis.

Examine the "surface deposits", the lake beaches, the drift striae, &c.

Make barometrical measurements of the relative elevation and depression of the ground.

It being obviously impossible to visit every section or square mile in the county, you will so plan your routes as to be able to examine the points of greatest importance to the material interests of the State, extending your lines south only to the region where the rocks are concealed by the drift.

Collect information relating to former explorations and mining operations carried on in the districts examined.

Upon the completion of your surveys of Ashland county you will extend your work (overland if found practicable) into Douglas county, where the Copper range will require special attention.

Two month's time will probably be sufficient for the examination of these two counties, leaving time to visit Black River Falls, Ironton and other such points as may be deemed advisable before the close of the working season.

Upon your return to Madison you will prepare a full detailed report, with the necessary maps and diagrams, having the same completed by the first of December next.

Such portions of this report as are deemed suited to the purpose will be included under your own name, as a part of the annual Report of the Progress and Results of the Survey.

When not engaged in the field work you will jointly with Prof. W.W. Daniells take charge of the Chemical analyses required