Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-02-14
SURVEY
REPORT or TIE GEOLOGICAL SUR.
VEY OF THE STAT re-.
MADE to the Legislature, Jan. 81. 1881

MADE to the Legislature, Jan. 81. 1881
The Select Committee, to whom was re.
ferrcd so much Of he Governors Message
as relates to the State Geological Survey,
have had the same under consideration and
respectfully report:
That the subject is Of great importance to
the state, not only in a scientific but in q pc.
%cuniary view. The report OF the Stale Geo!.
ogist setting forth tine progress and results Of
thefurvcy for the past year, will undoubted.
ly contribute much 10 satisfy the public Of
lis value, and justify all reasonable appropri.
atoms of the public money for its full CON.
Pletlon. Ii was perhaps, prudent in the le.
gisllture to direct a small apr ropriation for
the first year, but, in view Of the great re.
sources which have been already developed,
no one can doubt that a more liberal appro.
priation would have been attended with more
gratifying results.
That the money thus far appropriated has
beeu faithfully devoted TO the survey, the
committee is fully assured, not only from
an examination of the accounts of its super.
inintendent, but from u knowledge Of its pro.
gress and results. The contingent expenses
of an exploring expedition are always large
and especially in the outfit. During the
lust year 1t consisted of five or six persons,
who, win II the season permitted, were actu.
ally engaged in the field, and at other times,
busy in the investigation of plants, rocks.
and minerals. in preparing geological spe.
cimens, and Analysing mineral waters.
The committee beg leave TO submit brief.
Iv fhnIr xInus nf tho nrnnt hnnaGt xvhtok
may be confidently expected, from a faith.
FIJI completion Of the survey.
/. Its influence upon science.
The geological and meteorological depart.
ment, as it has done already, and will un.
doubtedly continue to furnish many inter.
esiing and valuable discoveries. The state,
It is true does not abound with that variety
of pure minerals, which distinguishes many
Of the eastern and middle States, but the
northern district, and that bordering on Lake
Superior, bid lair tn equal any of the mine.
raj regions of the west. Lead ore has been
found of great purity, but in small quaint.
ties. Coal, Iron and Gypsum are conside.
rably abundant, and, what scarcely any 9th.
er country in the world can boast Of, ma.
lure has given US in large masses, copper,
as pure as any that can be manufactured at
the furnace. Sufficient has beer discovered
to warrant the belief, that in mineral S, rngs,
Michigan is hardly inferior TO any Of her
sister states. The strictly geological fea.
lures of the state, are as interesting as those
of any other section of the west. Fossil
remains are quite abundant. and some fur.
nish conclusive evidence of the existence Of
animal races, which became extinct thou.
sands Of years ago, and perhaps a, the pc.
Rod Of the flood. Fossil remains Of the ri.
gantic Mastodon have been discovered
within our borders, some of which may be
seen in the collection Of the state Geologist.
The geological investig ition will doubtless
be attended with many results beneficial to
the agriculturalst st. From t re progress and
discoveries. which have been already made
in this department, we have good reason to
believe that the mostssauguine All ic pations
will be realized. The committee are confirm.
ed in their belief, by the well established rep.
utation Of the State Gcologist. who has thus
far shown himself interchangeable, not only in
this but in every other department Of the sur.
vey.
DOHlc Oh TIC Coiutiit tcc \ulNC tlC SaiiSs
faction Of eng intimately acquainted with
the superintendent Of the geological depart.
mcnt, and are happy in testifying to his su.
perior scientific requirements. In this de-.
partment collections have been already
made. which reflect much credit upon tho
| survey, and must assure The public OF the
great zeal and industry with which It has
| been prosecuted. In the branch of ornl.
| thology several hundred specimens have
been collected, arranged, aud set in their
natural positions. This result is more graft.
| fying and unexpected, when 1t Is considered
| that almost three. fourihs OF the labor, no.
cessary in the preservation of geological
specimens, consists in their preparation at.
ter death. In several other branches OF
ZOOLOGY have numerous collections been
also made. Entomology has as yet recei.
we'd but little attention, in consequence Of
the ~inadequacy Of last years appropriation.
II cannot be supposed. that, VITA thee thou.
sand dollars, competent persons could DO
procured, to prosecute vigorously, oil the
depar ments OF natural history. The COM
miltee believe, that at present, no section
Of the United States promises a more am
ple reward for the labors Of the