Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-12-31
GOLD In WISCONSIN.
The Opinion OF the Hon. 1. A. Lapham, the
state Geoi0gist.

state Geoiogist.
From the Milwaukee Sentinel, December lsth.l
Yesterday morning Sentinel re-
porter called on the State Geologlst,
|. A. Lapham. for the purpose of
laying his views on the subject OF
the reported discovery of gold before
the public. He found Mr.. Lapham
at home perusing the morning Sen
tineI, and was leased TO learn that
he has entirely recovered from the
effects of his recent prostration. Dr.
Lapham is one of the pioneers, OF
Wisconsin,, having come here with
Klbourn, Walker and Vilet. Ha
came as a surveyor, and since that
time has made the geography and
natural resources of Wisconsin a.
especial study. No man is better
versed in verything appertaining to
the natural history of the State, and
he is to-day one of the foremost of
American scientists. Some TWO or
three years ago he was appointed
State Geologst, and at once set to
work, with three assistants, to make
a careful geological survey of Wis
consin. Some two or three years
ago be prepared a chart showing the
geological formation of the State
this, however, does not enter into
the smaller details of the subject
La regard to the alleged discoveries
the following interview took place
Reporter Lapham, | perceive
you are reading the Sentinel. What
do you think of the reported discove
cries of gold in paying quantities in
the northern part of this State?
Mr.. Lapham-I have read the
account in the Sentinel, but cannot
tell what to think Of the matter.
So many gold mines have been dis
covered in various parts of the coun~
try of late years, which upon exam
ination proved to be no gold mines
at all, that one is justified in being
SIX ptlcal in such matters.
Roporter-Does the geological for
nation of any part Of the State
warrant the suppostion that gold
exists there?
Mr.. Lapham-Most assuredly it
does the whole northern portion of
the State is composed Of arch@an
rock, and it is 10 this formation that
gold and silver are usually found.
[ have been informed that in some
places silver has already been dis
covered.
Reporter-Do you know that any
collaborating quartz has been discoV
cred there?
Mr.. Lapham-On several occasions
specimens of rock containing gold IN
very small quantities have been for
warded to me. | have no proof, how.
ever, that they were native to the
place from which they were sent. |
will show you map on which the
arch@n rock region is represented,
promising at the same time that no
accurate geological survey of that
part of the State has as yet been
made. (Hereupon Mr.. Lapham pro-
duced his map, from which itappears
that nearly ore-third of the State
lying north of line drawn east and
west across the State through Green
Bay belongs to this formation. 1t
also crops out in various places in
the sandstone tract which comprises
the central portion OF the State. Al
one of these places near Baraboo, DO
had been creditabIy informed gold
in small quantities has been discov-
ercd).
Reporter-Why has not that part
of the State been surveyed as yet?
Mr.. Lapham-We have not come
to it yet; the eastern, southern and
southwestern parts have been sur
veyed and mapped, as has also q
small portion of the northwest. The
region spoken Of is one vast wilder
ness of pine and sand. 1t will be
both difficult and costly to survey it.
We intend, however, to SO at it as
soon as possible.
Reporter-Do you think it proba-
BILE that gold will be discovered?
Mr. Lapham-I think it quite
possible, but that is merely my pri-
vate opinion. That country is, un-
dou5tedly, rich in minerals, but,
without more convincing proofs than
any | have yet seen, | am 10th to
believe that gold in paying quaint
ties has been discovered. The 'ndi-
cations are that gold exists there,
and, if it does, there is little doubt
that it will soon be found by active
seekers, who will 60 there in search
of it.