Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1859-06-28
For the Mineral Point Tribune


reflect upon those things that have passed under
our observation How beautifully it shows that
provision in nature by which we are ena-
bled to snatch from the wheels of time, passing
1 events. Ind treasure them up for future exanin-
alton. l sometimes think when sitting down at
my little table, and turning out such-like treas
ure before me, and selecting the precious and
valuable for future use, and dropping the worth
less into obscurity, how very much l am like
/ the Geologist Just returned with his bag, and
pockets full of fosoils, mineral specimens, frag-
ments of rock, bones and teeth of animals
animals that knew no human government
+ What unspcakable satisfaction he feels to-day
in selecting and classifying the fossils and spec
/ linens obtained yesterday
/ In rejecting upon my visit to your City last
week, / find there is much connected with it
that is interesting. In fact there are places
around Mineral Point that cannot visit with
out receiving new impress ons, and treasuring
up in the store-house of the mind, some
thing new. Some of those places ] discovered
when ont in quest of geological information
many years ago, and spent there many long
hours in collecting facts, and trying to explain
their phenomena. with a view OF forming sys-
tenn theory, that would lead me back through
the vista of time, and give glimpse of that
agent employed to form those places dIfferentto
the surrounding country. Among other places,
I visited with Prof WHITNEY those sand stones
at the old Dreadnaught Diggings. You will re-
member that l called the attention of the plb-
lie to this place, (thrsugh your paper) some six
years ago. and though we failed to interest those
great men who were then among us in these
sand stones, SO as to have them assign reason
for their being there far above their bed
(and consequently this place, like many others
OF great interest or Importance, ia geological
point of view, have been allowed to slurnber IN
darkness,) they have not failed to make an i'm
preston upon the mind of Prof. WHITNEY. And
in the hands of such man, the subject viii un-
questionably be thoroughly investigated. Aud
from the hands of such n man shall unques
tlonably receive such Information rs will throw
the desired light this and such. like places.
/ do hope that all those interested IN this mi
ming region. will feel it to be, as it really is
their interest to aid him In collecting the facts
and explaining the phenomena of the lead re-
gion. We have never had before, and perhaps
never shall have again, a man so competent
every way. he is not Of that class who look
down upon Us poor practical men as class Of
ignoramuses;" Information from any one is very
thankfully received. But some viii say, " how
can / aid such as Prof. WHITNEY" I will
tell you how. Let the miner place in his hands
the fossils and good mineral specimens that he
may find in his diggings, tell him how deep and
under what circumstances they were found, the
f ~, L.. a.
let the former show him where the section lines
are. This is of Importance, he is getting up
geological map. And if it is near noon feed
his horse and every farmer knows what is i'm
piled in that, for how much better is man than
his horse. And if you keep him all night aud
put him in your best room, and set before him
the best you have, you viii find in the morning
when he comes 10 leave that you have obtained
from him information that Will reward you fifty
fold for all your trouble.
Another thing that interested me very much
while IN your City. was my visit to the Semi
nary. And Q, now charmed l was to see how
pleasantly and smoothly everything was moving
/ along. What a contrast between the present
and the condition Of things a few months ago,
! when the windows of heaven seemed to have
been opened and the fountains of the great
deep were broken up, aad the waters of perse-
cutlon were pouring npon it from above and be
low, and this feeble institution IN half finished
condition, with little pitch within or without.
was seen floating on the waters. Who thought
then that those turbulent waves that threatened
TO destroy 1t, were only waiting it up on that
proud eminence which it ia now resting and
that, that bright cloud encircled with bow
"a pledge that storms shall cease would so soon
be seen over the cupoa.
Your Seminary. with the present board of in :
struction, is an honor not only to your City bat
to the country round about it. 1t is something
that Will eventually more thSn compensate the
loss of the County Seat, Of loss you call it, IT
| were a resident of your City, "a I was once
and perhaps shall be again ere long, with the
influence of such an institution thrown around
me, and my family, l should call the loss of the
County Seat gain to me in every sense of the
word. Could We step forward ten years, and
gaze upon the rising generation that is growing
! up under the influence, directly and indirectly
/ OF such an institution. and compare them with
! the rising generation that is growing up under
the influence of those evils that will ever asso-
ciate themselves with a County Seat, the truth
OF my remarks would doubtless appear On
! things connected with my old home. volumes
might be written, but my sheet is full Adieu.
J. NJ
SUPREME Cor8T-REsrGSATIox OF ,IUpGE
SMTTH-Aon. A ID. Smith as resigned the no.
sitIon OF Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
ioI the remaining portion of his term and the
Governor has appointed Judge Paine TO fill the
vacancy Madison ,Eoarnal