12 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OP WISCONSIN. 



plans can only be made by the mining companies, and landed propri- 

 etors. Had this work been undertaken for each mining neighborhood, 

 there would have been but little time or means left for the prosecu- 

 tion of the survey in other portions of the state. 



It is deemed to be the proper business of the state survey to ascer- 

 tain the dip, number, magnitude, and relative position of the various 

 rock-strata; and, in the lead region especially, to make a careful top- 

 ographical survey for the purpose of ascertaining as far as possible 

 the amount of denudation, and the exact position of the mining 

 ground at each locality. The miner is thus supplied with correct and 

 tangible information to guide him in conducting his operations in 

 prospecting for new ranges, by showing which are the mineral-bear- 

 ing rocks, with their locality, dip, and thickness. This must be done, 

 not only for the mining region proper, but for the whole state. 



It is the proper business of the miner, at the expense of the owners, 

 and not of the geologist at the public expense, to search with pick in 

 hand, within the limits thus defined, for mineral ranges, sinking 

 shafts here and there until he meets with success. It then, and not 

 until then, becomes the business of the mining engineer to make those 

 minute and detailed investigations and surveys that are needed in tho 

 preparation of working plans, maps and profiles, showing the most 

 proper and economical method of working the mines so discovered. 

 Such survey and map should show the exact extent, location, and dip 

 of the several veins, with their crossings; the present condition of the 

 works; the proper system of drainage; the depth to which the veins 

 maybe supposed to extend; the contour of the ground; and many 

 other items, varying, of course, with the peculiarities of each location. 



Such surveys and plans are necessary for the proper working of any 

 mines, as has often been found at great cost; but they do not come 

 within the requirements of the law authorizing and defining the pres- 

 ent geological survey of "Wisconsin. Should such surveys ever be 

 undertaken by the state, the work now being done by Mr. Strong, 

 will be a necessary preparation for their proper execution. 



To indicate what is required by owners of mining property in the 

 lead region. Mr. Strong has prepared a map of the Blue Mounds in 

 Dane and Iowa counties, with the Brigham mines, showing the geo- 

 logical formations in colors, in the usual method, and also the topog- 

 raphy by contour lines, and the depth at which each rock would be 

 reached from any point. With the accompanying ex])lanations it will 

 be found that this kind of map shows a very considerable amount of 

 special information needed for practical purposes, and for deciding 

 many important questions in regard to the proper working of the mines. 



