524 BULLETIN 109, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Puhlication. — Hall's first report as superintendent of the survey, 

 as indicated by the letter of transmittal, bore the date of December 

 24, 1860/ This consisted of an octavo pamphlet of but 52 pages, 

 three pages of which are related to the general work of the survey, 

 the remainder being given up to descriptions of new species of fos- 

 sils. The manuscript of Whitney's report on the lead region was, 

 according to this author, submitted in October, 1800, but printing 

 was not begun until a year later and was finished in January, 1862. 

 As issued, this report formed a volume of 455 pages, of which the 

 first 72 consisted of an introductory chapter by Hall on the physical 

 geography and geology of Wisconsin, and included a catalogue of 

 the paleozoic fossils of the State. One thousand copies of this were 

 printed under an act of the legislature, dated April 15, 1861. The 

 second volume of Hall's report, it is stated, was prepared and sub- 

 mitted to the governor in December, 1862. The latter, however, did 

 not lay the same before the legislature until it was called for by a 

 resolution dated February 7, 18G3. It appears to have never been 

 printed. The following letters, explanatory of Hall's views of the 

 matter, seem worthy of reproduction in full : 



Washington, D. C, January 11, 186/f. 

 Hon. Alexander W. Randall. 



Deae Sir : In making the statement which you suggested in relation to the 

 geological survey of Wisconsin it is scarcely necessary for me to go back to the 

 original law and the organization of the survey. The law was imperative and 

 in all respects binding upon the individuals accepting positions under it, and I 

 believe you will recollect that I was from the outset desirous of avoiding all 

 difficulty, and on that account insisted on a distinct specification of the duties 

 and responsibilities I was about to incur. 



After agreeing to the division of labor and signing the contract with the State 

 I devoted myself, as far as the means at my disposal would permit, to the work 

 before me, while the passage of a supplementary law increased my duties and 

 responsibilities as well as my i)ersonal expenses without any additional com- 

 pensation. It is scarcely necessary to recapitulate In this place, as all the acts 

 and arrangements were done with your knowledge and approval. 



The first volume was ordered to be published during your administration, and 

 the manner and style of publication specified. This was accomplished, and 

 copies seut to your successor in office and placed in the hands of members of 

 the legislature in February, 1S62. At the same time a. committee was appointed 

 to inquire into and report upon the publication of the second volume, for which I 

 showed them the materials prepared and gave an estimate of the cost. The pub- 

 lication was recommended by the governor to the committees of both houses, who 

 met in the executive chambers, and these committees sanctioned the plan. So 

 favorably had the committee looked upon the matter in several meetings that 

 there seemed no doubt as to their recommend^! tiou, and by the .'idvice of Mr, 



»The copy of this printed report in the library of the United States National Museum 

 was the property of F. B. Meek, and bears the foUowinj;, in pencil, on the margin: 

 "First 16 pages, pub. February, 1861. Tajies 17 to 32, inclusive, pub. Nov. 10, 1861. 

 Remainder at a later date — December, according to Hall." 



