The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-11-29
The Geological Survey or Iowa, Wisconsin
and Minnesota.

From the st. Louis Republican, Nov. l5
In the Republican, of May last, when the U.
s. corps OF Biologists, under the direction of d.
ID. Owen, were about to enter upon the expora-
ton of the NORTHEASTERN survey, embracing
large portion of the Minnesota territory, we then
took occasion to describe, particularly, the ex-
tent and boundaries of the proposed survey, the
important objects designed TO be accomplished,
the distinguished scientific gentlemen cOmpos-
ing the corps, the time which would be required
for the completion of the survey, and the benefits
which. were expected to result from faithful
execution OF the duties imposed on the respec.
tive members OF the corps.
OF the three seasons deemed necessary for the
completion OF the survey, one has elapsed and
DR.. Owen and his party, consisting of b. F.
Shumard, b; c; Macy, A. Litton, ]. G. Norwood,
and A. Randall, have visited this city on their
return: AS some time will be required to pre-
pare the official report to the Department at
Washington, and as considerable interest has
been manifested on the subject, we have been at
some pains to collect data to enable us to present
a brief view OF some of the results of the labors
oil the present season.
A reconnaissance has been made of the coun-
try on both sides OF the Mississippi river, north
of the Wisconsin and Turkey rivers, and south
of the st. Crolx and st. Peters rivers, embracing
the whole of the Chippewa land district situated
in Iowa and Wisconsin. The Wisconsin, Prai-
RE la Cross and Black rivers-all the branches
OF the Chippewa, st. Croix, Bots Brule, and
Montreal, or Mauvas rivers, and the west fork
of Bad rivel-have been explored from their
mouths to their respective sources. The st. Pc
ters river was assembled little beyond the Bots
Franc and all the streams south of the ST. Pc
ters, and north of the United States geological
survey, made by DR.. Owen, in 1889, have been
assembled as far as they were navigable in birch
bark canoes
The corps, during the first season, have cross
ed the country from the Mississippi to Lake Su-
peror SIX times; and In the execution Of their ex-
plorations, the corps conformity have travelled
over an extent OF several thousand miles
detailed survey has been made In connection
with the linear survey of the southern portion of
the Chippewa land district, as we'll as the region
on both sides of Lake st. Crox, and between
that lake and the Miss ssippi. The whole extent
of the country of which a reconnaissance has
been made during the present season, is estima-
ted to be equal, In area, TO the State OF New
York.
The labors of the corps have not been restrict
ed, exclusively, to the investigation of the geo.
logical and mineral character of this north-wes-
tern section of country. Its agricultural re-
sources have been particularly cxamined-sta-
tlslcs OF It's lumber trade collected-lmportant
additions made to Its physical geography, hither-
to but little known, and particular attention
directed to the requirement OF every kind OF
knowledge calculated to afford valuable lnforma-
ton In regard to the real value of the country,
whether applicable to the acquisitions OF the
miner, the manufacturer, the farmer, the trader,
or the man of science. During the present win
ter, chemical anal yslses will be made OF the ores
and ore-bearing rocks, and the different soils
which have been collected upon the completion
OF which the first annual report will be drawn
up, containing detailed estimates, accompanied
by, geological chart, embracing the general re-
suits of the observations of all the members Of
the corps during the present year.
AS respects the geology of the section of
country surveyed, its rocks belong, in great
measure, to the primary and slurian, or proto-
zoac formation The lower magnetism lime
stone, the lead bearing rock OF southern Mis-
souri,, is found on the west side Of the Missis-
slppl river, from Turkey river, which enters the
Mississippi near Prairie du Chen, to the st. Pc
ter's river, displaying, IN various localities, in
dications of considerable lead ledes.
On the eastern side of the Mississippi river,
primitive rocks are met with in places from forty
formations are important for architectural pur-
poses, as they afford great variety of the most
durable, as well as ornamental building stones,
which, at no very distant period, will be vaIua-
BILE as articles OF commerce, as the great valley
oil the M Mississippi, to the south, is formed of Sc
condary rocks, which are far inferior for the per-
manent construction of ediiices.
Throughout this primitive region. the granite
rocks make their appearance in Succession OF
rounded knobs, elevated from ten TO fifty feet
above the waters OF the surrounding county
Their general range is southwest and northeast
Ihese rocks present cone iderablc variation IN
chG fer and composition. Sometimes they
arej nblendic, approaching to perfect syenite;
at otner times, feldsparihc Some portions are
massively stratifed, the masses being nearly
vertical: On the western limits OF these PRINT
tive rocks, there are several large deposits OIL
iron ore. The trap ringes, with the exception OF
those crossing the st. Croix river, are found on
the water courses which empty into Lake Supe-
rior, and is the rock in which the Lake Superior
copper Is found, and no doubt valuable mines oil
this mineral will be, hereafter, discovered IN