190 BULLETIN 109, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



and statesmanlike reflections on the progress and prospects of th© 

 State, Mr. Hubbard brings his somewliat remarkable report to a 

 conclusion. 



The report of S. W. Higgins, the topographer, is dated January 

 24, 1841, and covers 26 pages. It embodies a valuable memoir on 

 the '• Variation of the magnetic needle." The other topics treated 

 are " County surveyors " ; " Area of the Lower Peninsula," which he 

 makes 41,304 square miles ; " Elevation and depression in the water 

 of the Great Lakes " ; and " Marshes." 



FIFTH YEAR OF THE SURVEY, 1841. 



By a joint resolution, approved Febraury 2, 1841, the State geolo' 

 gist was instructed to act as commissioner on the part of Michigan 

 in relation to the boundary line between tliis State and Wisconsin. 



By an act approved February 8, 1841, the board of internal improve- 

 ment was required to supply the State geologist with requisite data 

 for mapping improvements, but no new surveys were permitted to 

 exceed $25. 



On the 20th of March, 1841, a joint resolution was adopted look- 

 ing to the encouragement of copper smelting in the United States. 



The report of the State geologist on the operations of this year 

 is dated January 25, 1842, and occupies less than six pages. He 

 says: 



The geolog:lcal and topographical surveys have progressed steadily toward 

 completion, though, in consequence of the reduction of the number engaged in 

 the work, which became necessary in consequence of the comparatively small 

 amount of funds applicable to that object, the amount of work accomplished has 

 been somewhat less than that of the preceding year. The labor so applied has 

 been chiefly devoted to the westerly portion of the Upper Peninsula, including a 

 part of that which may be designated as the mountainous district of the State. 



He speaks of duties assigned relative to the boundary line be- 

 tween this State and Wisconsin, and says he has completed " a very 

 perfect geological section nearly 180 miles in length, crossing from 

 the mouth of the Montreal River of Lake Superior, to the mouth of 

 the Menominee Eiver of Green Bay. A large amount of work has 

 been performed in the mountainous region, stretching from Montreal 

 River to Ontonagon River, and extending southerly from Lake Su- 

 perior, a distance of some 40 miles, including what may be termed 

 the Avcsterly portion of the copper district within our State. All the 

 rivers between and including the two named have been carefully 

 examined to their sources, and the Porcupine Mountains have been 

 traced out through almost their entire range. The copper ores asso- 

 ciated with the altered conglomerate and sandstone rocks in thU 



