240 BULLETIN 109, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



FIRST GEOLOGICAL SURVEY UNDER A. H. HANCHETT AND H. H. EAMES, 



1864-1866. 



An attempt to establish a regular geological survey was made by 

 the second State legislature, which adopted a " concurrent resolu- 

 tion " ordering the appointment of commissioners to report on the 

 geology of the State, and on a plan for a geological survey. These 

 commissioners made separate reports, setting forth the utility of such 

 a survey, but owing to the financial burdens which the young State 

 had to bear, incident to the inauguration of the various public in- 

 stitutions, and the opposition of Governor Ramsey, the legislature 

 did not take any further action on the subject. 



The legislature of 1864, however, by joint resolution, authorized 

 the governor to appoint and direct a State geologist. The following 

 is the text of the law : 



An act to provide for a geological survey of the nortii sliore of Lalse Superior within th 

 limits of the State, and other mineral and coal districts, and to appropriate money 

 therefor. 



Be it enacted hy the Legislature of the State of Minnesota: 

 Section 1. That there be, and is hereby, appropriated, out of auy moneys iu 

 the treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $2,000, to be expended, or 

 so much thereof as may be necessary, under the direction of the governor, in 

 causing to be made a geological survey of the mineral lands on the north shore 

 of Lake Superior, within the limits of this State, and also of other mineral or 

 coal districts of the State, and the governor is hereby authorized to appoint a 

 suitable person or persons to make such survey, whose report of the same shall 

 be made to the governor, and by him transmitted to the legislature.* 

 Approved, March 4, 1864. 



Administration. — Under this law Dr. Aug. H. Hanchett was ap- 

 pointed State geologist. With him was associated Mr. Thomas 

 Clark, who had been one of the " commissioners " of the resolution 

 of 1860. These gentlemen made each one report for 1864, that of 

 Mr. Clark containing some valuable information concerning the 

 physical features of the northern part of the State, but adding little 

 or nothing to the actual geology. For a report of progress on the 

 first year's work, limited in time and means, the pamphlet containing 



1 This same year the following memorial was submitted to Congress, though evidently 

 without effect : 



Memorial of the legislature of Minnesota praying Congress to make an appropriation 

 for a geological survey of the mineral lands on the north shore of Lake Superior within 

 the limits of the State of Minnesota. 



Mar. 10, 1864. Referred to the Committee on Public Lands and ordered to be printed. 

 To the Conf/rcss of the United States of America: 



Your memorialists, the Legislature of the State of Minnesota, respectfully request that 

 your honorable body Vi-ill appropriate money and make provision for a geological survey 

 of the mineral lands on the uorfh shore of Lake Superior within the limits of this State, 

 believing that thereby the interests of the General Government and of this Slate woul<J 

 alike be greatly promoted. 



