202 BULLETIN lOy, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



unavailing cries to a narrow and parsimonious legislature to rescue 

 them for the credit and benefit of the State. 



By a joint resolution adopted April 7, 1846, all the collections by 

 the late geological survey were transferred to the universitj^ This 

 provision was also embodied in an act approved May 11, 184G. The 

 university is also in possession of standard works on geology and 

 paleontology, which appear to have been once the property of the 

 surve}' or of Doctor Houghton. What amount was expended by the 

 survey in the purchase of books does not appear from accessible 

 records, but I find a joint resolution, adopted February 12, 1841. 

 authorizing the State geologist to pay Collins, Keese, and Company, 

 of Xew York, a balance of $064.50 due for books ordered by Governor 

 Mason in 1837 and 1838. 



The geological researches instigated and conducted by Doctor 

 Houghton have proved of great importance both directly and indi- 

 rectly in the growth of the State. The geologists were, in both 

 peninsulas, explorers of a wilderness, and first promulgators of 

 reliable information concerning everything which makes a State- 

 desirable or undesirable for settlement and enterprise. In the Lower 

 Peninsula they established the existence of extensive deposits of coal, 

 gypsum, and building stones, and awakened an interest and con 

 fidence in the existence of copious supplies of brine, which were not 

 dispelled by the qualified failures at the two State wells and Lyon's 

 well at Grand Eapids, but survived until, under more favorable, 

 financial auspices, investigations were reinaugurated and crowned 

 with marvelous success. Extensive deposits of kidney iron ore 

 were disclosed, and for their working, tlie Union City Iron Company 

 was incorporated March 17, 1847. The Saginaw Gypsum Company 

 was incorporated March 28, 1849. 



In the northern peninsula, enterprise was awakened which con- 

 tinued to enlarge w^ith the progress of development, until Michigan 

 has assumed a leading position in the production of copper and 

 iron. The Pioneer Smelting Company of the Upper Peninsula of 

 Michigan was incorporated by the legislature March 16, 1847. The 

 Copper Falls Mining Company was incoi-porated March 16, 1848, and 

 on the same date acts of incorporation were approved for the North- 

 western Mining Company and several others. During the session of 

 1848, 23 mining companies were incorporated. Jacob Houghton, jr., 

 gives a list of 102 mining companies in the Lake Superior region to 

 July 17. 1846. To the same date he enumerates about 900 locations, 

 leases, and permits dating from May 13, 1844, and subsequently.' 

 The tide of mining enterprise was now setting strongly. With wdiat 

 failures and successes this industry had been prosecuted is known to 



» Mineral Region of Lake Superior, pp. 147-191. 



