280 



You justly remark upon tlie singular inducements, which our favor- 

 ed State present to the capitalist and the agriculturist. Michigan, in- 

 deed, holds a proud position in regard to the commercial and industrial 

 interests of our country. The investigations of her Geological Survey 

 disclosed the fact, until then unknown, that the rocks of our lower Pe- 

 ninsula constitute one of those great wave-like undulations of the carbo- 

 niferous strata, which spread over so extensive a portion of the middle 

 and western States, and which here form a distinct coal basin, entirely 

 within the limits of the State. A future age only, can fully appreciate 

 the value of the mineral products of this coal basin, with its associated 

 beds of iron, gypsum and salt ; a value far surpassing that of the gold 

 of California or the silver of Mexico, and bearing a far more direct and 

 fortunate relation to the wants and industrial pursuits of oiu* popula- 

 tion. 



The information contained in the annual reports of the Geological 

 Survey, though necessarily disjointed, is of great value, and is in the 

 hands of comparatively few of our citizens. But few practical opera- 

 tions have been commenced, since the publication of those reports, to 

 test the value of the informatioii therein contained, and many pereons are 

 disposed to doubt the existence of some of the facts indicated. The 

 conclusions of science, nevertheless, remain unchanged, and the at- 

 tempts which have been made to develop them more fully, at particulai' 

 localities, are in practical confirmation of these conclusions. 



The gypsum, or plaster beds of Kent county have been extensively 

 worked near Grand Rapids, for the last ten years, and have yielded a 

 supply which may be extended to meet all the increased wants of the 

 State. It is of a quality far surpassing that which is imported, in large 

 quantities, from the State of New York, and is equalled in purity and 

 beauty only, by the celebrated quarries of Nova Scotia. 



The coal of the north-east part of Ingham county, has recently been 

 mined to considerable extent, by R. R. Lansing, Esq., whose published 

 "Exposition" is suflBcient to show the actual and jirospective value to 

 our State of the beds of this mineral, which have been subjected to 

 practical test. 



In reference to the coal of Michigan, I may here remark, that the 

 basin which lies within our Lower Pinansula, though small compared 

 with those of which some of the States can boast, is yet of no mean 



