The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-02-22
Speech OF Hon. T.. III. Thompson.
TIE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

the Legislature al its present session, Tor hnlsh-
ing the Geological Survey OF the State. On
Thursday evening last, bill for this purpose Was
brought before the House, when NJ Reeves
moved TO indefinitely postpone.
Mr. f. II. Thompson, Of Geuesee, said he
''hoped that the motion would not prevail The
bill had been reported unanimously by the COM
mi;tee on Geological Survey. All the States in
the Union had perfected their surveys, and il re-
quircd only knowledge OF the result of their
labors, TO show how much benefit had been de-
rived from them, independent of the advance
ment of the cause Of science in all its various
departments What New York, Pennsylvania,
Virginia, Massachusetts. and Ohio had done, and
the millions of wealth that had been the result
Of such surveys light be equally important for
Michigan. But a portion of our own State has
been explored, and that in an imperfect manner
owing 10 the want ot time aud necessary legisa-
tive action to carry on the work"
Mr.. Thomson continued:
.'Now, Mr.. Speaker, it is an undenable fact,
that but for the geological survey of the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan, commencing ss il did,
some twenty years ago, under the able auspices
of the lamented DR.. Houghton, the State, 10 tins
day, would never have known of the inexhaus-
table mineral wealth of that section o the com
try.
As late AZ 1897, the Lake Superior District
was looked upon as terra ancogeltd, as desc
late and unpracticable 10 the energy of our race.
| IT,. vapu. and uncertain aecounts of IN, carly
| French rOvaqers Charlevoix, Marquette, and
Father Hennepin, of the existence of Copper on
| the south shore of Lake Superior, century
since, and of it, being conveyed 10y the carly
Catholic missionaries, at the Sault Ste. Marie and
Mackinaw. into candlesiicks. crosses and ceucers,
and by the early aborigiEes of the country, at a
still earlier day into bracelets and rude orna-
ts,-hsve years ago been brought into con-
firmation 'v the scientific exertons of the di>t;n-
guished Houghton.
| Ii is 10 his careful and critical examination OF
portion Of the Upper Peninsula, that We are
indebted for the astonishing fact that the copper
on Lake Superior forms part Of ne primary
Copper Of the globe. The expense of the geo.
logical survey o; the Upper Peninsula never cost
the State of Michigan single cent. The con
tract for the lineal survey of that country was
| taken hy Dir. iloughtoa, from the Federal GOV
ernment, solely with a view OF developing its
natural resources, and what have been the Won
derful results within the short period OF twelve
years The answer is at hand - The Copper
| trade of the ocean has bean equally rererSci r'H
| tia. OF the lead The views collected, and the
wonderful development of the country, amid
sufYerings and Aardslips, so far impaired the
health of Dr. IInughtcn "a To render il impossi-
bic for him to enter into a minute detail ot his
explorations but crude rs II was and regarded but
"a Outskirt in the field Of his discoveries, they
have not only been confirmed and strengthened
| bv subsequent explorations and discoveries, hut
the copper and iron wealth of the country have
| far exceeded that oi any other deposits in the
world
! Ii was not to he expected that within the
| short space of ten wears land that all the
time devoted To the geological eSplOrations) that
the mineral wealth aud metshIerOus history Of
a district of country extending along the south
ern shore Of Lake Superior, from Lake Superior
to Fon du Lac, and back To the head OF the
streams emptying into the lake including also
Isle Royal and the several islands in it, vicinity
and within the boundary of rho Tn,a3 St,-a.