356 WISCONSIN AGRICULTUEE. 



If the little incident here related should seem to anj one a 

 trivial sequel to so long a preamble, let him reflect that a single 

 interesting and well authenticated fact is of more value in science 

 than many theories. Human speculations are often false, and 

 always liable to error, whilst facts constitute the real ;ind imper- 

 ishable basis, upon which all true h^^potheses must ultimately 

 repose. 



Geneva, EL, May 27th, 185T. 



THE MINES OF WISCONSIN. 



BY PROF. E. DANIELS. 



To THE Secretary of the State Agricultural Societt. 



Dear Sir: — At your request I transmit a brief notice of the 

 mineral productions of this State, hastily prepared from the 

 scanty material thus far collected. 



Imperfect as it is, however, it may serve to convey some idea 

 of the mineral resources of our State, and it certainly contains 

 enough to vindicate the claim of Wisconsin to a high rank 

 among her sister States as a producer of those great staples, lead 

 and iron. It is also shown, that although our State contains no 

 coal within its boundaries, that the portion of it which is scantily 

 supplied with timber; lies in close proximity to the northern 

 border of the great Illinois coal field, from which coal can be 

 easily and cheaply brought to eke out the waning forests, or to 

 supply their lack. I regret only that an earlier notice, or a less 

 complete occupation of my time, had not permitted me to give 

 a more carefully prepared report. In this article I have devoted 

 most of my remarks to such minerals as occur in quantities suf- 

 ficient to be valuable for economical uses ; barely noticing the 

 existence and locality of others. 



