The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-11-02
.sTATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY - 70
COUNTY SUR We YORS THkOtGHOCf
TILE STATE OF MICHIGAN.


It has appeared to me that a portion
of the legitimate objects of the Geologi-
cal Survey of the State, might be promot-
cd by directing the attention OF acting
and former County Surveyors, TO the
Topography of their respective Counties.
Your pursuits lead you into every
quarter of the inhabited portions of tho
State, and often many miles beyond the
limits of the settlements, and the nature
of your duties is such, that you unavoid-,
ably notice the typographical features OF
the districts you survey. Many Oh you
are by this means already placed IN pos
session of an accurate and detailed knowl-
edge of the topography of one or more
counties. All this information collected
together, with that which is still readily.
obtainabe, would constitute mass OF
facts of immense interest TO our ci'izehs'
and to persons intending to emigrate TO
our State.
The object of this circular is to request
you TO prepare written accounts OF the to-
biography Of your respective counties 10
be transmitted to me, to serve as ma'eri.
al in the preparation of a description OF
the Physical Geography of the State
Such accounts should embrace notice OF
the location and extent of Marshes, Dry
Plains, Rolling Land, Lakes, Streams,
deposits of Peat, Marl, Bog, Iron Orc
and other superficial accumulatlons.-
The comparative ruggcdness of rolling
and broken regions; the occurrence Oh
mineral springs, or springs of sweet wa
ter of unusual copiousness; the preVah-
ing kinds of timber; the color, hneness
and productive qualities of the soil;
whether abounding in gravel sand' clay
or vegetable matter-these arc all char
acters which it would be well to embrace
in an account of the topography oil a
county. If, in addition to this, L could
he informed relative 10 the localities and
kinds of rock occurring in your county |;
, the mineral productions of interest; fos-
sill bones or any other fossil remains, yo',
would contribute much toward rapid
, completion of the work which | have In
charge.
5 The only inducement which | can OF
+ fer that should lead you to undertake the
labor proposed, is the praise Of that pub
lie spirit, and the qualification of thai
consciousness of doing good, which promp
, TO nearly all the noble deeds that dc
:, honor to the names of their authors
Every one however acting on the sugges
I, tions of this circular, will receive full cred
n it for the part which he shall have per
formed, in the published reports OF th'
= Geological Survey; and will thus be en-
Il abled TO enjoy the gratitude OF his fellow
,r citizens.
1t is earnestly hoped that this circula
:. may not be put aside for some future
q consideration, but that the work suggest
/ ed may be Immediately commenced
The paper of Mr.. S. A. Pettibone, on thu
:. topography of Washtenaw County, rea'
~ some time since before the Historical So
= ciety, shows what County Surveyo
may do; and might be taken as mode
by other surveyors or ex-surveyors.
Only the impossibility of addressing
You individually has caused me 10 resor
IN to the publication of circular; 1 hop
a therefore your personal interest will b
ry the same as if in direct correspondent
d, with myself. Shall | not see the fulfill
n, ment Of my expectations in relying upo
no this educated class of our citizens!
he A. WINcHELL, State Geologist.
st Ann Arbor, Sept. lst, 1859.