AMERICAN GEOLOGT — DECADE OF 1830—1839. 351 



His life was one of unceasing - activity and furnished one more illus- 

 tration of the energy, persistence, and virility of the Scotch emigrants 

 and their descendants in America. He is described as a man of amia- 

 bility, simplicity, and integrity of purpose, and certainly was an artist 

 of no inconsiderable ability, as is exemplified by the sketches in his 

 numerous reports. The geological sections given by him in the report 

 on the Chippewa land district have never been equalled for picturesque 

 effect (see Plate 19). 



To properly appreciate much that is to follow, it must be remem- 

 bered that, beginning with 1807, all Government lands containing ores 

 were reserved from sale and a system of leasing adopted. No leases 

 d. d. Owen's were, however, issued until L822, and little mining 



wYsconsVn f , l^nT' was done previous to 1826. For a few years, accord- 

 iihnois, 1839-40. j n g, ^ Q Whitney, rents for the mining lands were paid 

 by the operators with comparative regularity, but after 1834, in con- 

 sequence of the innumerable fraudulent entries of lands as agricultural 

 which should, in reality, have been reserved as mineral, the smelters 

 and miners refused to make any further payments, and the United 

 States officers were entirely unable to enforce the claims of the Gov- 

 ernment. 



In consequence of these difficulties a resolution was adopted in the 

 House of Representatives, on the Oth of February, 1839 — 



That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be prepared, and 

 presented to the next Congress at an early day, a plan for the sale of the public 

 mineral lands, having reference as well to the amount of revenue to-be derived from 

 them and their value as public property as to the equitable claims of individuals 

 upon them; and that he at the same time communicate to Congress all the informa- 

 tion in possession of the Treasury Department relative to their location, value, 

 productiveness, and occupancy; and that he cause such further information to be 

 collected and surveys to be made as may be necessary for these purposes. 



In accordance with this act Doctor Owen was appointed Govern- 

 ment geologist under direction of the General Land Office (James 

 Whitcomb, Commissioner) to make surveys in Iowa, Wisconsin, and 

 northern Illinois. His first report, bearing date of April 2, 1840, was 

 printed to form House Document No. 239, of the First session of the 

 Twenty-sixth Congress." It comprised, all told, 161 printed octavo 

 pages, with 25 plates and maps, including a colored geological map 

 and several colored sections. Fourteen of the plates were from 

 Owen's own drawings. The district explored comprised an area of 

 about 11,000 square miles lying in equal portions on both sides of the 

 Mississippi River, between latitude 41° and 43°, beginning at the 

 north of Rock River and extending thence north upward of 100 

 miles to the Wisconsin River. (See tig. 45.) 



"A reprint or second edition of the work was brought out in form of Senate Doc- 

 ument No. 407, 28th Congress, 1844. 



