lic lands in the northwest by an enterprising and useful class of settlers. Should it be noticed (as, from its official character, it is not unreasonable to presume it may) by the scientific writers of Europe, it may be the means of attracting capital and enterprise from across the Atlantic. This would result not only in advantage to the country, but in direct pecuniary gain to Government, under any plan which may be adopted for the sale of the mineral lands. If the report be printed, it is indispensable to a correct understanding of the same that the illustrations should be printed along with it. I respectfully invite your attention to that chapter in my report which refers to the report of Dr. Locke. You will perceive, from looking over that chapter, that so much of Dr. Locke's report as relates to objects of mere curious research, and the examination of which was not included in my instructions, is offered gratuitously, and without any cost to Govern ment. It has been my constant endeavor, throughout the conduct of this expe dition, to observe the strictest economy that was consistent with a faithful attainment of the great objects which I was instructed to accomplish. And I trust that, when the extent of territory to be explored, and the necessarily minute character of the exploration, are borne in mind, it will be admitted that my endeavors have not been unsuccessful. The per diem fixed by the department was, I believe, the lowest at which steady and efficient subagents and assistants could have been engaged. And, in order to aid in making the men satisfied with their wages, after organizing for them a system of purveyance, I charged them the bare cost of the supplies, without even a percentage for the risk I myself incurred, and the loss to which, by that risk, I was exposed. In regard to the specimens collected, they were in a great measure indispensable, to enable me to make not only my general but my special reports with fidelity and exactness. I have, in accordance with your recently received instructions, meanwhile retained them here; and shall strictly attend to any future instructions which may be forwarded to me regarding their final disposition. The vouchers for the small amount still outstanding to complete the cost of the expedition shall be forwarded to you by next post, together with an abstract of the entire accounts of the expedition, from its commencement to its termination. As this letter contains a brief synopsis of the results exhibited in my report, I suggest the utility, if that report is laid before the President, of accompanying it with a copy of this communication. The report is enclosed in a tin box, and the accompanying charts, &c., in a tin case; and both are mailed to your address on the same day as this letter. I am, sir, your obedient servant, DAVID DALE OWEN, Principal agent to explore the mineral lands of the United States. Hon. JAMES WHITCOMB, Commissioner of the General Land Office. MADE UNDER INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY OF THE UNITED STATES, IN THE AUTUMN OF THE YEAR 1839, BY DAVID DALE OWEN, M. D., Principal agent to explore the mineral lands of the United States. Introduction TABLE OF CONTENTS. Country explored, situation and extent of Cliff limestone, the lead-bearing rock of Iowa and Wiskonsin, des- cription of; including a comparison between the lead region of Iowa and Wiskonsin, and that of the north of England, the most productive in the known world - Metallic ores, list of the principal localities of Catalogue of the different varieties of geological and mineralogical specimens collected in Iowa and Wiskonsin Appendix, containing a description of the individual townships ex- plored; face of country; proportion of prairie and timber; how watered; nature of the soil; kind of rocks, fossils, and minerals; together with a table exhibiting in figures the proportion of prairie Comparison of the geological formation of the lead region of Iowa and Wiskonsin, and the cliff formation of Ohio, Indiana, and Ken- Climate and meteorology, observations on Report of E. Phillips, sub-agent. Report on the timber, soil, and productiveness of the mineral district No. I. Page. 156 157 159 NEW HARMONY, INDIANA, January 20, 1840. SIR: Your communication of the 31st of July last, covering my commission as principal agent to explore the mineral lands of the United States, and containing instructions what lands to survey, and how to conduct the examinations, reached me at this place on the 17th of August. These instructions, prepared by direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, under a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 6th of February last, required me to proceed to Iowa, and undertake an exploration of all the lands in the Mineral Point and the Galena districts, which are situated south of the Wiskonsin and north of the Rock river, and west of the line dividing ranges eight and nine east of the fourth principal meridian; together with all the surveyed lands in the Dubuque district;" comprehending, in all, upwards of three hundred townships of land. This exploration I was required to complete "before the approaching winter should set in." In regard to the nature of the exploration to be made throughout this district of territory, I was informed that "it had been decided by the Secretary of the Treasury that the investigation should embrace every description of mineral deposite, calculated to impart so much value to the land as would justify the expense;" and I was instructed to "note carefully the result of the examinations of the mineral appearances of each tract of land, its situation in the section, how occupied, and such facts as will serve to convey some idea of its value and productiveness." I was further informed that it was "the anxious desire of the Secretary that all the lands in the Dubuque district found not to contain appearances of lead mineral or salines, and not otherwise reserved by law, should be brought into market next (now last) fall, at the earliest day practicable;" and I was, accordingly, instructed to "report to the General Land Office, and to the register, lists of all such lands, from time to time, as fast as I should have completed the examinations of (say) from ten to fifteen townships sufficiently to enable me to certify the fact that they do not contain appearances of lead mineral or salines, in order that the same may be proclaimed for sale, successively, as the lists shall be received;" which special reports, however, I was informed, were to "form no part of my general report," which I was instructed to make after completing the examinations of the entire district to be explored, and which report I was required to accompany with a "general list of all the lands found to contain appearances of mineral or salines, as far as situated in the surveyed lands, with appropriate remarks opposite to each tract, to be likewise accompanied by connected diagrams showing the precise locations." I was also instructed to "select specimens of all the minerals of much value, accompanying each with the designation of the quarter section, township, and range, from whence the same shall have been taken," and to forward these to Washington city; as such a collection was deemed important to illustrate my official report, and enable the department to judge better of the value of the lands, and also interesting as forming a nucleus for a national cabinet. In regard to the force which I was permitted to employ, I was informed that, "with a view of completing the examinations before the approaching winter," the Secretary had assented to my " employing as many subagents and assistants as I might deem requisite for the purpose." After duly weighing the nature of iny instructions, estimating the extent of country to be examined, considering the wild unsettled character of a portion of it, and the scanty accommodations it could afford to a numerous party, (which rendered necessary a carefully-calculated system of purveyance,) and ascertaining that the winter, in that northern region, commonly sets in with severity from the 10th to the middle of November, my first impression was, that the duty required of me was impracticable of completion within the given time, even with the liberal permission in regard to force accorded to me in my instructions. But, on a more careful review of the means thus placed at my disposal, I finally arrived at the conclusion, that, by using diligent exertion, assuming much responsibility, and incurring an expense which I was aware the department might possibly not have anticipated, I might, in strict accordance with my instructions, if favored by the weather and in other respects, succeed in completing the exploration in the required time. I therefore immediately commenced engaging sub-agents and assistants, and proceeded to St. Louis; there (at my own expense, to be repaid to me out of the per diem of the men employed) I laid in about three thousand dollars worth of provisions and camp furniture, including tents, which I caused to be made for the accommodation of the whole expedition; and in one month from the day on which I received my commission and instructions in Indiana, (to wit, on the 17th of September,) I had reached the mouth of Rock river; engaged one hundred and thirty-nine sub-agents and assistants; instructed my sub-agents in such elementary principles of geology as were necessary to the performance of the duties required of them; supplied them with simple mineralogical tests, with the application of which they were made acquainted; organized twenty-four working corps, furnished each with skeleton maps of the townships assigned to them for examination, and placed the whole at the points where their labors commenced, all along the southern line of the western half of the territory to be examined. Thence the expedition proceeded northward, each corps being required, on the average, to overrun and examine thirty quarter sections daily, and to report to myself on fixed days at regularly appointed stations: to receive which reports, and to examine the country in person, I crossed the district under examination, in an oblique direction, eleven times in the course of the survey. Where appearances of particular interest presented themselves, I either diverged from my route, in order to bestow upon these a more minute and thorough examination; or, when time did not permit this, I instructed Dr. John Locke, of Cincinnati, (formerly of the geological corps of Ohio, and at present professor of chemistry in the medical college of Ohio,) whose valuable services I had been fortunate enough to engage on this expedition, to inspect these in my stead. |