No. 99. Argillaceous limestone. No. 100. Oölitic chert, a stratum in the equivalent of the Missouri limestone on the Wiskonsin river. No. 101. Conglomerate sandstone. No. 102. Buff colored stratum, above No. 98. No. 103. Blue limestone, (see diagrams Nos. 4, 5, 6,) containing strophomena. (See illustrations of No. 59.) No. 104. Stratified white carbonate of lime, containing a spiral univalve, resembling a trochus, a stratum in the blue limestone. No. 105. A yellow rock with fossils, on Turkey river, perhaps the equivalent of No. 102. No. 106. A fossil crustaceous animal, having a three-lobed structure. No. 108. A magnesian limestone, below No. 98; is an equivalent of the No. 110. Wiskonsin copper ore, (a hydrous di-carbonate of the oxide of copper, with a variable admixture of oxide of iron, and sometimes a little sulphuret of copper.) No. 111. Stratum in the Missouri limestone. No. 112. Building stratum in the equivalent of the Missouri limestone, just above the lower sandstone, No. 98'. No. 113. A stratum in the equivalent of the Missouri limestone. No. 114. A porphyritic boulder. No. 115. Boulder of siliceous slate. No. 116. Very rugged masses of quartz found with No. 108, similar to those found in the lead region of Missouri. No. 117. Boulder of hornblende. No. 118. Ferruginous sandstone, below the blue limestone formation. No. 119. The stratum No. 98, passing into a quartz rock. No. 120. Argillaceous limestone-a stratum in the blue limestone forma tion, similar to that used in Cincinnati for curbstones. No. 121. Carbonate of lead. No. 122. Sulphuret of zinc, (black jack.) No. 123. Carbonate of zinc, (dry bones of the Wiskonsin miner.) No. 124. Hornstone. No. 125. Gray clay from the diggings. No. 126. Lowest stratum of the cliff limestone, above the blue limestone. No. 128. Marl, associated with No. 82. No. 129. Chert, containing strophomena. No. 130. One of the lower beds of the blue limestone, containing numerous small shells and cyathophylla. No. 131. Sulphate of barytes, from Mineral Point and Gratiot's Grove diggings. No. 132. Lowest rock on Rock Island; four feet exposed above low water of the Mississippi. No. 133. A shelly white carbonate of lime, above No. 132, twelve or fif teen feet thick. No. 134. Brecciated limestone, above No. 133, one foot thick. No. 135. Similar to No. 133. No. 136. White siliceous rock, with fossils, something like No. 27. No. 138. Light gray stratum, from the new diggings in township one, range one east, of the fourth principal meridian. No. 139. Radiated and capillary pyrites, from the White-oak Springs, near the Illinois line. No. 140. Sulphate of barytes, with carbonate of zinc, sulphuret of zinc, and sulphuret of lead, from Mineral Point diggings. NOTE. Of the fossils collected, many are probably yet undescribed; but until the receipt of several recent works of reference on organic remains, I am unable to determine this point. NEW HARMONY, INDIANA, DEAR SIR: Last week, the last of the township maps containing our annotations were forwarded to your office. The general report will not be completed for several weeks; the maps, diagrams, illustrations, lists, and analyses of ores and minerals intended to be imbodied and to accompany it, requiring much time and consideration. By this post I send you the appendix, containing notes giving a description of the individual townships, and embracing details intended chiefly for reference; at the end will be found two tables, showing the proportion of prairie and timber in the Dubuque and Mineral Point districts, and a descriptive catalogue of the different varieties of specimens to be forwarded to Washington as soon as those collected in Wiskonsin arrive. Since we finished our operations at Stephenson, the winter has been so severe, and the snow so continually on the ground, that it has been impossible to make the examination of the townships in Illinois, in the neighborhood of Shawneetown. By the time my report is completed, I shall be prepared with a corps of from six to eight, to proceed with the examination, unless I receive, in the mean time, instructions from you to the contrary. No communications have been received from you since my last letter. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. JAMES WHITCOMB. DAVID DALE OWEN, P. S.-I find it necessary to retain the catalogue until the analysis of several ores and minerals, which I am now making, is completed, and drawings are made, to which it will be frequently necessary to refer. APPENDIX, Containing a particular description of each township. NOTE. The numbers designating specimens refer to corresponding numbers on the labels of the different specimens forwarded to the depart ment, to form a nucleus for a national cabinet. A descriptive catalogue of these specimens, with the numbers prefixed, is annexed to this appendix. For the particulars of occupancy and claims,, the department is referred to the annotations on the township maps herewith forwarded. All the diggings of importance, and all the new discoveries of lead ore, are indicated on the general map, and on the township maps, by dots of vermilion, and (No. 34) the number of "sulphuret of lead" in the catalogue and national cabinet; dots of green and (No. 110) represent, in like manner, the copper diggings and discoveries of copper; dots of yellow ochre and (No. 15) indicate hydrated brown oxide of iron; dots of yellow gam boge and (No. 123) indicate localities of carbonate of zinc and calamine. Description of the individual townships, showing the face of the country; proportion of prairie and timber; how watered; nature of the soil; and the kind of rocks and minerals. IN RANGE ONE WEST, OF THE FIFTH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN. Township 78.-Nine-tenths rich rolling prairie; one-tenth timber. On Mud creek, hickory, oak, hackberry, and walnut. On Pine creek, oak, hickory, and a little pine. Pretty well watered in the southeast, northwest, and northeast. Soil: good second-rate; rather sandy, particularly near Mud creek. Sub-soil, clayey. Rock: on southwest corner of 26, on Pine creek, are found specimens similar to No. 19; some ferruginous sandstone, similar to specimen No. 18, on Pine creek. On northeast of 1. a little hydrated brown oxide of iron, like specimen No 15, and a little argillaceous iron ore, with loose masses of specimen No. 19. Township 79-Entirely rolling and broken prairie, with the exception of the borders of Mud creek, and a few insignificant groves of stunted timber interspersed throughout the township. A little good oak timber on Mud creek; not well watered. Soil generally third-rate, sandy, lightcolored, except on the creek. No rocks discovered. Township 80.-About four fifths broken prairie; about one-fifth good oak timber, in the northeast corner, on the creek; not well watered, except in the northeast corner. Soil: third-rate, light, sandy; some loose masses of limestone in the northeast, on the creek. Township 81.-Chiefly broken prairie; some scattering stunted oak and hickory bushes; and on the creek, in the north, a little good timber; not well watered, except in the north. On 15, some loose masses of siliceous limestone, (specimen No. 3;) on 9 and 10, numerous boulders, (specimens No. 16.) H . Township 82.-All rolling prairie, except the northeast corner, on the east side of Wapsipinecon river; well timbered on 1, 12, and part of 11, with white and black oak; not well watered, except in the northeast corner. Soil: third rate, light-colored, sandy. Sub soil: coarse saud. Rock: (specimen No. 3) between 22 and 15; also hydrated brown oxide of iron in loose fragments, (specimen No. 15.) A very large granite boulder on southeast of 1, twenty-five feet in diameter, fourteen feet high. Township 83.-Mostly rolling prairie; a strip of timber along Wapsipinecon river; a grove of hickory and oak on the southwest quarter of 16, and some scattering timber on 1, 12, and 13; well watered in the south, but not in the north. Soil: third rate; coarse sand, light-colored; small bottoms along the river, pretty good soil; some rock (specimen No. 3) in the centre of the township; some boulders on 34, 27, and 33, several of them very large; on 16, some pieces of iron ore, (specimens No. 15.) Township 84.-Chiefly broken prairie; some timber along Bear creek; good timber on 25 and 26; dwarf oak growth on the creek towards the north, and occasionally bushes through the prairie; tolerably well watered; some good springs. Soil: third-rate, clayey, light colored. Sub soil: clay. Numerous cliffs of rocks along Bear creek, like specimen No. 12, with crystallized carbonate of lime, (specimen No 31 ;) siliceous masses scattered over the township; some loose masses of iron ore (specimen No. 15) on the surface, principally on southeast of 15, northwest of 21, and north east of 27. Township 85.-Nearly half prairie; surface very broken on Mineral creek, and on the Makoqueta river; good black and white walnut timber in the east and south; well watered. Soil: generally clay; the small bottoms, along the cliffs, rich; the ridges third rate land; township full of rocky cliffs, (specimen No. 12,) containing fossils, (specimens Nos. 54, 56, and 73.) Specimen No. 31 very common, disseminated, or in crevices, in the rock; a great variety of flinty masses similar to specimen No. 68. On southwest of 28, some iron ore, (specimen No. 15.) Here are also diggings, and some lead ore has been discovered, but no body of it found; it is supposed that there has not been more than one hundred pounds raised. Township 86.-About two thirds rolling prairie; about one-third good oak timber, chiefly strips along the north fork of the Makoqueta river, also along Farmer's creek, and a branch of the Makoqueta river in the northeast; very well watered both by streams and springs. Soil: generally second-rate; along the stream, and on east side, land broken. Sub soil: clay. Rock: specimen No. 3 very frequent with specimen No. 31; Fossils specimens Nos. 51, 29, and 54. No diggings. No appearances of lead ore. Township 87.-About three-fourths broken prairie; one-fourth timber, chiefly stunted, with some spots of good quality; well watered by streams and springs. Soil: along White-water creek, second-rate, rather sandy, dark colored. Sub soil: mostly clay; the rest of township surface broken. Rock (No. 3) frequently exposed in cliffs with specimen No. 31 imbedded. Fossils specimens Nos. 51 and 73; some agate (specimen No. 72) found in this township on 22. Township SS.-The greatest part high, broken prairie; in the northern part of the township, very thin openings; remarkably well watered by streams and springs. Soil: first-rate, upland, rather dark sandy loam; the soil of this whole township is nearly as good as in the valleys generally. Sub soil, sandy. Rock (No. 3) often exposed in cliffs; no appearances of lead ore. Township 89.-About seven sections rolling prairie; the rest very broken timbered land; pretty well, timbered generally; on the ridges, consid erable basswood and American aspen; well watered by streams and springs. Soil: second rate, clayey. Cliffs (specimen No. 3) containing fossils (specimens Nos. 54, 29, and 64.) Township 90.-Eight or nine sections in the west, rolling prairie; also, part of 15 and 23; the rest of the township broken timbered land; the southwest corner is oak openings; well watered both by streams and springs. Soil in the timbered land, second-rate, sandy, rather dark; a small strip of bottom along the north fork of Little Makoqueta river firstrate. Numerous rocky cliffs, (specimen No. 3;) on northwest of 9, below specimen No. 87, a bluish green clay. The northeast half of this township shows symptoms of lead ore. There are, however, no productive lodes at present discovered. Some iron ore (specimen No. 15) on southwest of 9; also, on northeast of 8, and northwest of 4; but no extensive bodies of it discovered. On the southwest of 28 a crevice was struck, but no lead ore was found. Fractional township 91.-Little or no prairie; high and broken land and precipitous cliffs. Timber: chiefly oak. Well watered by streams and springs. Soil: second and third rate; clay. Rock on top of bluffs like specimen No. 79; below, specimen No. 91. Diggings on 35 and 36; about five hundred pounds supposed to have been raised. IN RANGE TWO WEST, OF THE FIFTH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN. Township 78.-About two-thirds prairie; east half, high, rolling, sandy prairie; the part near Cedar river, low, level, and sandy. Groves of tim ber between Cedar and Sugar creeks; some heavy timber near the mouth of Sugar creek, chiefly elm and water oak; thinner towards the northeast, where the ridges are covered with white oak; well watered in the northwest. Soil: third-rate, sandy, light throughout; on the southeast, destitute even of grass. No rocks visible on the east side of Cedar creek; on the west side, rock (specimen No. 5.) Township 79.-The eastern portion, two-thirds broken prairie; the western part, broken barren ridges, covered with a dwarf oak growth; on Sugar creek, some pretty good timber. Soil: third-rate, generally sandy, and light colored, better than in township 78. The first ledges of rock found in this range (specimen No. 3) near the middle of the township. Township S0.-About four fifths rolling prairie; groves along Sugar creek and Crooked creek; about one fifth timber; burr oak on the ridges; basswood and white-oak near the streams on the richer part of the township; west half well watered. Soil: second rate, rather sandy. Sub-soil: clay. No ledges of rocks visible in this township. Township 81.-The whole of this township is rolling prairie, except three spots of timber, generally burr-oak, occupying about one section. Soil second-rate, rather sandy, light-colored, except on the surface. No rocks visible, except a few boulders. Township 82.-All prairie, except one grove partly on 14, and partly on 11; not very well watered. Soil: second-rate, rather sandy. Ledges of rock on Yankee run, chiefly on 10, 14, 15, and a few on 22, similar to specimen No. 3. |