Box 4, Folder 5: Miscellaneous Typewritten Letters

1873.

(Answer to foregoing)

Wind blows toward a storm from all directions, hence against at first,--with it afterwards.

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Berwick-on-Tweed, 5 September, 1873.

Dr. I.A. Lapham,

Dear Sir,-

I am collecting for the British Government at the Cape of Good Hope information in regard to the forests of Europe and America and have just returned from a tour of observation through the forest districts of the central and northern countries of Europe.***

The report made by you was brought under my attention some years since by Baron von Mueller, government botanist at Melbourne, Australia.***

I shall feel greatly obliged if you will inform me where it is to be had.*****

I am,

Dear Sir,

Respectfully yours, John C. Brown, L.L.D. P.R.G.S. F.L.S. &c. &c.

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Oct. 1, 1873.

I.A. Lapham, L.L.D.

My Dear Sir,-

*** I find all that was said by my friend Baron von Mueller fully justified in your report and I thank you much for supplying me with so much valuable information.

1873.

Much that is advanced I could confirm by observations made elsewhere.***

I thank you much,

Yours faithfully,

John C. Brown.

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Milwaukee, Sept. 24, 1873.

Hon. A.C. May,

Dear Sir,--

I am much obliged for the opportunity you have afforded me, of reading the letter of Mr. W. to you respecting the geological survey, objecting to the manner in which it is conducted suggesting how this "humbug" method in his opinion could be improved and ending with an application for a position in the survey;

It is quite apparent that he misapprehends the proper objects and duties of a State Geological Survey. They are clearly and properly defined in the law authorizing the survey, and I can not think it was wrong for me to consult the provisions of that law, rather than the wishes even of leading men, who might perhaps be interested in particular localities. Other portions of the states are, equally with the lead regions, entitled to the benefits of this survey, but if Mr. W. will make an estimate of the cost of maintaining several (say three) parties of surveyors in constructing maps of the whole lead region "showing the exact extent and location of the ranges, all quarterings and crossings, together with the depth of the openings from the surface, whether the deposits are in water, and if so how they can be drained, either by a level or by pumps" (and much more of the same sort) he will find that there would be but little of the money appropriated for this survey left

1873.

to be expended in other parts of the state.

It is the business of the State Geologist to examine the structure, the dip, number, magnitude, and relative position of the various rock strata, and in the lead region especially to make a careful topographical survey for the purpose of ascertaining, as far as possible, the amount of denudation, and the exact position of the mining ground at each locality.

We thus give to the miner correct and tangible information by which to conduct his operations in prospecting for new ranges &c., by showing which are and which are not mineral bearing rocks, with their localities, &c. This is precisely what Mr. Strong, under instructions from me, is doing, and this will be first accomplished, for the whole lead region.

It is the business of the miner and not of the geologist to search with pick in hand, within the limits thus defined, for mineral ranges, sinking shafts here and there until he meets with success.

It then, and not till then, becomes the proper business of the mining engineer to make those minute and detailed investigations and surveys that are needed in the preparation of working plans, maps, profiles, &c. showing the most proper and economical method of working the mines so discovered.

Such surveys and plans are necessary for the proper working of any mines, but they do not come within the requirements of the law authorizing and defining the geological survey of Wisconsin. If it had been so, it would still have been prudent and proper to ascertain the extent of the mining ground as is now being done, by Mr. Strong, so that all portions of these ground may be equally benefitted.

1873.

Mr. Strong is fully capable of understanding the wants of the mining community and of making the most minute and accurate surveys of their mines &c.

Yours very truly,

I.A. Lapham.

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Sept. 29. Judge May told me that my construction of the laws authorizing the survey was undoubtedly correct, and that my arguments on the subject were entirely unanswerable:

I.A.L.

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Milwaukee, Wis. December 19, 1873.

Professor James D. Dana,

Dear Sir,-

Having just received a specimen of mica from Canada which exhibits optical phenomena so new and extraordinary (at least it is new to me) that I can not resist the temptation of sending it to you for examination and thus elicit more light in regard to it.

If we hold this mica near the eye and look through it towards a strong light placed at a considerable distance a beautiful star will be seen, consisting of six lines crossing so as to from twelve rays each separated by an angle of 30 degrees. One half of these lines are larger and more distinct than [not that] the others.***

The three smaller lines become attenuated near the center of the star, and have the appearance of passing under or behind the others. Now if we revolve the mica in the direction of its plain it will be found that rays revolve also.

Under the microscope with a very strong light the surface is seen to be distinctly striated, the striae crossing each other

1873.

at angles of 30 degrees, 60 degrees, or 120 degrees, corresponding with the direction of the star-rays. Most of these strias are short, others extend entirely across the field of vision in the microscope.

Yours truly,

I.A. Lapham.

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McGill College, Montreal, Dec. 30, 1873.

Dr. I.A. Lapham,-

Dear Sir,--

In my capacity as geologist to the British North American Boundary Survey, I have had occasion last summer to make a geological examination of the Lake of the Woods and have had my attention called to some probable changes of level of its waters.

I am anxious to obtain any reliable information on the fluctuations of the Great Lakes, more especially of Lake Superior, for purposes of comparison. I take the liberty of asking you for references to any published data, as I believe the subject is one in which you have taken some interest.

Yours very truly,

George W. Dawson.