Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-06-10

large part of the work in history and
economics. Our common schools have
for many years neglected these i'm
portant studies. 1t has been partly
due to lack of suitable material in
the form of manuals. 1t is the pur-
pose OF the survey to devote a por-
ton of its attention to the preparation
of such manuals. There is no teach
er of geography in the state but will
hail this departure with delight. The
expression which is often heard is:
ut Is just the thing we need"
Wisconsin has of late years become
noted for pearls as well as diamonds
The Wisconsin pearls are among the
finest in the country. The source of
the pearls has been largely destroyed.
cious settings was furiously plundered
and soon, like the buffalo of the west
ern plains became almost extinct.
| The survey intends to do what it can
to revive this industry. Investiga-
tions can be carried ON which may
prove very profitable.
People who live away from large
bodies OF water scarcely appreciate
what are important economic pro-
ducts in the fish which are annually
caught in the lakes within and ada
cent to our state. Like many other Of
our natural resources they should be
looked after in such manner as to
eliminate the waste which is constant
ly going on. The supply can be en-
larged by careful study and protec-
ton. Fish may be planted in certain
lakes Of the states, where they will
thrive better than do those which now
live in such waters. In many ways
may this industry be improved.
Our state produces many medicinal
roots and herbs, which might be made
source of revenue If people were
acquainted with their value. But of
far more Importance than this is the
question of the protection of our for
ests. For years there has been going
on in the woods of northern Wisconsin
ruthless slaughter of pine timber
lands. The best trees have been cut
down and utilized for making lumber
The limbs and rubbish left strewn
over the ground after the advance OF
the woodman's axe have furnished
fuel for the great forest fires Of the
north, by which thousands upon thou
sands of dollars worth of property
have been destroyed and many lives
lest, The next generation will be
obliged to live on that which the pres
ent generation is throwing away I'M
less something is done to stop the
waste. The people of this generation
are selfish in that they do not provide
for the generations that are to follow.
This principle is no better illustrated
than IL the destruction of our forest
lands. These lands should be looked
after not alone on this account but for
the fact that we are responsible for
the destructive floods of the south in
so far as the devastation of our for
ests disturbs the equilibrium Of the
water supply and causes unnatural
drainage.
These matters need the attention of
the survey and will receive the consid-
as far as practicable.
Many other matters of value to peo-
pie of the state will be taken up as op-
portunity permits The field for work
is very large. The natural resources
of the state have but begun to be de-
veloped. The legislature appropriated
$4,000 per annum for two years for
this work. The only trouble is that
the. APPROPRIATION is too small and the
time too limited The appropriation
ought to have been SIS, 900 and the du-
ration of the survey ought to have
been extended to ten years. No ex-
penditure of money will be of NOR
material and lasting benefit to the
state, than that of this geological and
natural history survey.