River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-02-07
Geological and Natural History Survey.

One of the important measures be-
fore the present session Of the Legis-
lature is Bill No 30 A, to establish a
Geological and Natural History Sur
vey of the State of Wisconsin, previ-
ously referred to in the JOURNAL.
1t was introduced in the Assembly by
the chairman of the Committee on
Education. Hon. ID. o. Mahoney, and
on Jan. 30 was reported back with
favorable recommendation and is now
before the Committee on Claims.
The bill provides for four main lines
of work in natural history and geology:
Cd The com pletion of the geological
survey Of the state, especially the ex-
animation Of rocks with reference TO
the occurrence of iron ore, building
stones, and other valuable products;
(2) che study of the plants of the state,
especially CT the forests, with refer
ence to their cultivation and preser-
V" ton; (3) the investigation of the
fishes of the state, and especially the
study of their food and enemies; and
(4) the study of the physical geography
of the state, and the preparation of
typographical map.
1t will be seen that all parts of the
state are interested in the work of the
proposed survey. The northern re-
gions are especially interested in the
study of the forests and of the mineral
products; the regions bordering the
great lakes and those with inland fish
cries are interested in that side of the
investigation; the typographical work
has already been begun by the United
States Geological Survey in the south
ern part of the state, and would nat
urally be continued at first in that
district.
The result of such a survey would
be "A knowledge of the resources of the
state, and of the best means to utilize
them. Such knowledge is especially
necessary at the present time, when
50 great part of these natural re-
sources which il is easily seen have
been utilized. Our forests are al
ready rapidly disappearing, and the
question at once confronts us how
the land which they occupied shall be
utilized to the best advantage. The
state is spending many thousands of
dollars annually in charging the
feels greatly the lack of accurate in
formation regarding the foods and
enemies of the fish which they are
planting. The question OF roads and
highways is rapidly becoming one of
the first Importance, and knowledge
of the topography of the state is abso-
lutely essential if highways, drainage
canals, artesian wells, and similar
enterprises are to be intelligently
carried out.
Tho educational side of the survey
is also brought conspicuously forward
in the bill. as would be expected in a
measure originating with the Acade-
my of Sciences. The State Supt. Oh
Education has repeatedly urged that
manuals on the physical geography
and natural history OF the state. he
prepared for use i'm our schools. 1t is
as yet impossible to do this, since
there is no accurate knowledge of the
surface of the state or of its animal
or vegetable life. All persons inter
ested in education will easily sec that
manuals SO prepared, based on the
Facts of nature within the immediate
reach of the teacher and students, are
Of far greater value in education than
those which are based on the facts OF
more distant regions.
The previous state Survey began in
1919 and ended in 1879. by its work
during this short space OF tine, the
material resources of the state were
greatly developed. but it could not
cover the entire state, and much of
our northern area was then an inn
penetrable forest. 1t is now time To
complete this work, and TO give the
State of Wisconsin such a knowledge
Of herself as is needed in a state with
so many and varied resources. ana
recources which demand SO much Ct
intelligence for their successful
working.