246 BULLETIN 109, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



officers, it seems, about the same time suggested that these lands be 

 saved for some better purpose. Among those who had thus con- 

 ferred and had conchided that these lands might be appropriated 

 to the maintenance of the geological and natural history survey of 

 the State, should be mentioned A. J. Edgerton, then State railroad 

 commissioner: H. B. Wilson, superintendent of public instruction; 

 O. P. Whitcomb, State auditor: and J. S. Pillsbury, one of the 

 regents of the university. 



The suggestion first came to Professor Winchell from Mr. W. D. 

 Hurlbut, of Rochester, and it was almost solely through his repre- 

 sentatives that the following rough draft of a law was prepared by 

 the State geologist and forwarded to J. S. Pillsbury, with a request 

 that he would remodel it according to his judgment and offer it in 

 the State senate of the following Avinter. Mr. Pillsbury, however, 

 turned it over to Senator Edmund Eice, of St. Paul, who introduced 

 it exactly as drafted, and so it passed both houses and was appi-overl 

 by the governor. The following is the text of the law : 



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



Section 1. The State lands known as State salt lands, donated by the Gen 

 eral Government to aid in the development of the brines in the State of Min 

 nesota, shall be transferred to the custody and control of the board of regents 

 of the University of Minnesota. By said board of regents these lands may be 

 sold in such manner, or in such amounts, consistent with the laws of the State 

 of Minnesota, as they may see fit, the proceeds thereof being held in trust by 

 them, and only disbursed in accordance with the law ordering a geological and 

 natural history survey of the State. 



Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the said board of regents, as soon as prac- 

 ticable, to cause a full and scientific investigation and report on the salt springs 

 of the State, with a view to the early development of such brine deposits as 

 may exist within the State. 



Sec. 3. The board of regents of the university shall cause the immediate sur- 

 vey and investigation of the peat deposits of the State of Minnesota, accom- 

 panied by such tests and chemical examinations as may be necessary to show 

 their economical value, and their usefulness for the purpose of common fuel ; « 

 full repoi-t <:hereon to be presented to the legislature as soon as practicable. 



Sec. 4. The sum of $2,000 is hereby appropriated annually (in lieu of $1,000) 

 for the purpose of the geological and natural history survey until such time as 

 tlie proceeds of the sales of the salt lands shall equal that amount, when such 

 annual appropriation shall cease. 



Sec. 5. The sum of $500 is hereby appropriated for the purchase of apparatus 

 and chemicals for the use of the geological and natural history survey, the same 

 to be expended by the order of the board of regents of the University of Min- 

 nesota. 



Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of the board of regents of the University of Min 

 nesota to cause duplicate geological specimens to be collected, and to furnish 

 to each of ihe three normal schools suites of such specimens after the univer- 

 sity collection has become complete. 



Sec. 7. When the geological and natural history survey of the State shall 

 have been completed, the final report on the same by the said board of regents 



