GEOLOGICAL. AND NATURAL HISTORY SURVEYS. 243 



proofs of the resources of the State and the means of ilhistrating; the 

 natural sciences as they should be taught in the university. The 

 actual and minute study of the natural history of the State was. 

 perhaps, a secondary motive, although this is specifically required 

 by the terms of the law. It is a comprehensive law, and was intro- 

 duced into the State senate by Regent J. S. Pillsbury. Having 

 passed both houses, it was approved by Gov. Horace Austin, March 

 1, 1S72. It reads as follows : 



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



Section 1. It shall be the duty of tlie board of regents of tlie University of 

 Minnesota to cnuse to be begun as soon as may be piiicticable and to carry 

 on a tlaorongli geological and natural history survey of the State, 



Sec. 2. The geological survey shall be carried on vt'ith a view to a complete 

 account of the mineral kingdom, as represented in the State, including the 

 number, order, dip, and magnitude of the several geological strata, their rich- 

 ness in ores, coals, clays, peats, salines, and mineral waters, marls, cements, 

 building stones, and other useful materials, the value of said substances for 

 economical purposes and their accessibility; also an accurate chemical analysis 

 of the various rocks, soils, ores, clays, peats, marls, and other mineral sub- 

 stances, of which complete and exact I'ecord shall be made. 



Sec. 3. The natural history survey shall include, first, an examination of the 

 veget.-ible productions of the State, embracing all trees, shrubs, herbs, and 

 gi'asses, native or naturalized in the State; second, a complete and scientific 

 account of the animal kingdom, as properly represented in the State, including 

 all mammalia, fishes, reptiles, birds, and insects. 



Sec. 4. The said surveys and examinations shall be made in the manner and 

 order following: First, the geological sui'vey proper, together with the necessary 

 and implied mineraJogical investigations; all of which shall be undertaken as 

 soon as may be practicable, and be carried forward with such expedition as may 

 be consistent with economy and thoroughness; second, the botanical examina- 

 tions; third, the zoological investigations: Provided, hoivcver. That whenever 

 the said board of regents may find it most economical to prosecute different 

 portions of the surveys in conjunction, or that the public interest demands it, 

 they may, in their discretion, depart from the above-prescribed order. And in 

 the employment of assistants in the said surveys, the board of regents shall at 

 all times give the preference to the students and graduates of the University 

 of Minnesota, provided the same be well qualified for the duties. 



Sec. 5. The said board of re.gents shall also cause to be collected and tabu- 

 lated such meteorological statistics as may be needed to account for the varie- 

 ties of climate in the various parts of the State; also to be caused to be ascer- 

 tained [byl barometrical observations or other appropriate means, the relative 

 elevations and depressions of the different parts of the State; and also, on or 

 before the completion of the said surveys, to catise to be compiled from such 

 flctual surveys and measurements as may be necessary, an accurate map of the 

 State; which map, when approved by the governor, shall be the official map of 

 tlie State. 



Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of said board of regents to cause proper speci- 

 mens, skillfully prepared, secured, and labeled, of all rocks, soils, ores, coals, 

 fossils, cements, building stones, plants, woods, skins and skeletons of animals, 

 birds, insects, and fishes, and other mineral, vegetable, and animal substances 



