GEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SURVEYS. 89 



that is already practically completed, and it will cost mucli more iu the end 

 should it now- be dropped and taken up again after two years or at any future 

 time. 



By this means the localities and position of the coal beds, their extent and 

 thickness will be determined, and the resources of the State iu this important 

 mineral will be thoroughly develoiied. It is unnecessary to enlarge upon the 

 Importance to the State of a thorough knowledge of the extent and character 

 of the coal formation iu the western and southwestern parts of the State. 



It should be provided also that there be authority to publish such results of 

 this survey as shall be deeu)ed important for giving inforniatiou to the people 

 in regard to this and other mineral resources of the State, or any other facts of 

 interest and importance which may be made known in connection with the 

 survey. 



It is very desirable also that certain investigations be made in the lead re- 

 gion of Dubuque, with a view to the completion of the map of that region, and 

 which shall conform in perfection with the maps of the adjacent portions of 

 Wisconsin and Illinois, including the entire lead region of the Nortliwest. 



To accomplish this will require $2,000 annually for actunl expeiiditure.si. with- 

 out providing anything as salary for the State geologist. 



Should the committee prefer to consider the question of completing the work 

 in the lead region and the publication of the map as proposed, I submit tlie 

 following memoranda regarding an equitable division of the necessary ex- 

 penditure. 



The great lead region of the Northwest lies in the States of Wisconsin, Iowa, 

 and Illinois, much the greater part of it being within the State of Wisconsin. 

 and the finishing of the map will be completed during the present year. As 

 these States are individually and mutually interested in this mineral region and 

 all that pertains to it, it is pi-oposed that each contribute to the expense of the 

 publication, so that the map may be presented as a whole, and the report em- 

 brace the consideration of the entire region, by which means the inhabitants of 

 each State could possess the complete work. 



I give below the e.stimated cost of printing geologicil report of the lead 

 i-egion : 



Cost of engraving and printing geological map, number of cojiios 2,500 St, 500 



Same number of lai'ge crevice map 750 



Cost of printing report with the necessary illustrations --. 1,500 



$3, 750 



This expense to be divided as follows. Wisconsin, three-fifths, $2,250, number of 

 copies, 1,500; Iowa, one-fifth, $750, number of copies, 500; Illinoi.'^. one-fifth. 

 $750, number of copies, 500. These sums are exclusive of field work. 



Should this plan be adopted and a larger number of copies were required by 

 Iowa — a number corresponding to that of the geological reijort already printed — 

 that number could be had for the additional cost of paper and printing, the 

 original cost of the engraving and the composition of the letterpress having 

 been defrayed at the joint expense of the States interested as above indicated. 



This report on the entire lead region could, moreover, be incorporated in a 

 volume with other results of the Iowa geological survey, the paging being bo 

 arranged as to admit of the other matter following in its proper order. 



If the 500 copies alone were sufficient these may be secured for the sum 

 of $750 as above, witli the addition of $500 for the completion of the field work. 

 The field work in the lead region of Wisconsin will be completed this year, 



