96 J. J. STEVENSON — OUR SOCIETY 



the deposit became known to capitalists very largely through the reports 

 of this survey, though at that time economic geology had no charms for 

 its head. Much of the enormous development of the Lake Sui)eri()r iron 

 region was due to the influence of the later survey between 1869 and 

 1873. 



The first Ohio survey, made sixty j^ears ago, was at greater disadvan- 

 tage than the Pennsylvania survey, yet in the first year the coal area was 

 defined, and during the second the geologists deteroiined the distribution 

 of the several limestones and sandstones which, as building stones, have 

 become so important. The second survey was made effective at onceb}'' 

 the tracing and identification of the Hocking Valley coal, which brought 

 into the state a vast amount of new capital and changed the face of a 

 whole district. The third survey determined the distribution of oil and 

 gas, the relations of the coal-beds, and the characteristics of the clay de- 

 posits in such fashion as to remake the manufacturing interests of the 

 state. 



The Mesabi and Vermillion ranges of Minnesota contain deposits of 

 iron ore which for the present at least appear to be even more impor- 

 tant than those of northern Michigan. Almost fifty 3'ears ago J. G. 

 Norwood, while studying the easterly end of the region, discovered the 

 Mesabi ores. A few^ j^ears later Whittlese}^ after a detailed examination 

 farther west, predicted the discovery of similar ores — a discovery actually 

 made in 1866 by Eames, who was then state geologist and engaged in 

 studying the Vermillion range. Though not utilized at once, these an- 

 nouncements v/ere not forgotten, and systematic exploration Avas begun 

 in 1875, when the need of high-grade ores at low prices made necessary 

 the opening of new areas. Almost at once the then recently organized 

 state geological survey determined the extent of the ore-bearing region, 

 difi'erentiated the deposits, and removed erroneous impressions respect- 

 ing the extent and distribution of the ores. The effect of these discussions 

 and of the })0sitive fixing of areas has been to increase development and 

 to cheapen ores of the best quality so far that Bessemer steel can be 

 manufactured more cheaply in the United States than elsewhere, in spite 

 •of the fact that wages are still higher, not simply numerically, but in 

 purchasing power, than in any other iron-])roducing country. An ex- 

 amination of the reports which have brought about this result compels 

 one to saj'' that anxiety for economic results does not appear to have 

 been the impelling motive during the work. There were perplexing 

 geological problems to be worked out and the solutions could be dis- 

 covered only b}' the most painstaking Avork. This investigation led to 

 the economic results. 



