Report of a Geological Exploration of Part of Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois, Made Under Instructions from the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, in the Autumn of the Year 1839: With Charts and Illustrations |
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4th 4th appears beds blue bluffs bottom broken Camp carbonate chiefly clay Clear cliff limestone coal colored containing copper creek diggings discovered discoveries district Dubuque east 4th examination extend feet figure formation fossils four Fractional township fragments geological groves growth half hill hundred important indications Iowa iron land lead lead region light lime lodes loose lower magnetical masses miles mineral mines Mississippi mould Mound northeast northwest numerous oak openings observations occurs pieces places plate portion pounds present Prevailing rocks PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN probably productive quantities raised range remarks rest ridges river rolling prairie sand sandstone sandy second rate side similar Soil southeast southwest specimen strata streams and springs stunted Sub-soil surface survey thick thin third rate thousand timber tolerably township upper veins watered by streams whole wind Wisconsin
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Page 23 - Sometimes they present, even when more closely inspected, a curious resemblance to turrets, and bastions, and battlements, and even to the loopholes and embrasures of a regular fortification. Sometimes single blocks are seen jutting forth, not unlike dormant windows rising through the turfclad roof of an old cottage ; and again, at times, especially along the descending spurs of the hills, isolated masses emerge in a thousand fanciful shapes, in'which the imagination readily recognises the appearance...
Page 20 - ... metalliferous, or encrinital limestone. And it belongs, yet more especially, to a subdivision of this group, known popularly, where it occurs in the west, as the cliff limestone, and described under that name by the geologists of Ohio. " This last is the rock formation in which the lead, copper, iron, and zinc, of the region under consideration, are almost exclusively found ; and its unusual development, doubtless, much conduces to the extraordinary mineral riches of this favored region.
Page 60 - ... considered as about the average quality of the soils of that State. He adds : " As this is probably the first attempt that has been made to obtain the amount of geine in any considerable number of soils, we cannot compare the results with those obtained in other places. They will be convenient, however, for comparison with future analyses.
Page 4 - that the President of "the United States be requested to cause to be prepared, and presented to the next Congress, at an early day, a plan for the sale of the public mineral lands, having reference as well to the amount of revenue <to be derived from them, and their value as public property, as to the equitable claims of individuals...
Page 166 - ... the original surface of the ground. Alluvial stratification is positive proof that a formation is not artificial ; but the absence of a base of mould is not positive proof of the same thing ; for the constructors may have removed the surface on commencing their work. Many of our tumuli have not only a base of mould marking an original surface, but ashes, coals, bones, and artificial implements deposited at the bases of tumuli, of various forms and heights, from two to seventy feet. " In examining...
Page 12 - Its acceptance demanded that he explore "all the land in the Mineral Point and Galena districts which are situated south of the Wisconsin and north of the Rock rivers, and west of the line dividing ranges 8 and 9 east of the fourth principal meridian ; together with all the surveyed lands in the Dubuque district," and complete his work before the approaching winter should set in.
Page 4 - That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be prepared, and presented to the next Congress at an early day, a plan for the sale of the public mineral lands, having reference as well to the amount of revenue to be derived from them and their value as public property as to the equitable claims of individuals upon them; and that he at the same time communicate to Congress all the information in possession of the Treasury Department relative to their location, value, productiveness,...
Page 14 - On the 14th of November, the survey of the Mineral Point district was in a similar manner brought to a close ; and by the 24th of November, our labors finally terminated at Stephenson, in Illinois ; the examinations of all the lands comprehended in my instructions having been completed in two months and six days from the date of our actual commencement in the field. Also several thousand specimens — some of rare beauty and interest — were collected, arranged, and labelled. The weather was favorable,...
Page 57 - Not so the traveller through the mining districts of western America. These afford promise of liberal reward, no less to the husbandman than to the miner ; and a chemical examination of the soils gives assurance that the promise will be amply fulfilled. The mode of analysis adopted was, in its general features, the same which has been recommended by Dr. Dana, of Lowell, and adopted by the geologist of Massachusetts.
Page 7 - ... exhibited by the geologist on numerous detached township plats; and beg leave to submit them in lieu of such detached plats. To avoid further delay, this report is presented in advance of the plan for the disposal of the public mineral lands called for by the resolution, yet in process of preparation, and which will shortly be laid before you. 1 flatter myself that the propriety of this course will be approved, by reason of the essential bearing which the very important information now furnished...
Bibliographic information
| Title | Report of a Geological Exploration of Part of Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois, Made Under Instructions from the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, in the Autumn of the Year 1839: With Charts and Illustrations Nineteenth Century Collections Online (NCCO): Science, Technology, and Medicine: 1780-1925 Issue 407 of Senate document, United States Congress Issue 407 of U.S. 28th Congress, 1st sess. Senate doc Issue 407 of [United States.] 28th Congress, 1st session. Senate document |
| Author | David Dale Owen |
| Contributor | United States. General Land Office |
| Edition | revised |
| Publisher | U.S. Government Printing Office, 1844 |
| Original from | the University of California |
| Digitized | Oct 16, 2007 |
| Length | 191 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |