ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1875. gg 



Dr. J. G. Percival was appointed in his place, August 12, 1854. He 

 held the office till his death at Hazel Green, May 2, 1856. Dr. Perci- 

 val was in the field two seasons. His first report, of 100 pages, was 

 published' under his own supervision. He left a second report nearly 

 complete, which was subsequently published in 1856. His work was 

 mostly confined to the lead region, but the second season he made a 

 " reconnoissance of the state for the purpose of forming a general idea 

 of the geological arrangement." At once scientist and poet, morbid 

 and eccentric. Dr. Percival made accurate original geological observa- 

 tions, but refused to hold intercourse with others from whom he might 

 have received important information and valuable aid. 



In March, 1857, the "Wisconsin legislature passed an act providing, 

 that " James Hall, of Albany, If. T., and Ezra S. Carr, and Edward 

 Daniels, of "Wisconsin, are hereby designated and appointed commis- 

 sioners to make a geological, mineralogical, and agricultural survey of 

 this state, embracing a scientific and descriptive survey of the rocks, 

 fossils and minerals of the state ; full and complete assays of the ores 

 and minerals, also of the soils and subsoils, with classification and 

 description of the same and their adaptation to particular crops, and 

 the best methods of preserving and increasing their fertility. They 

 shall also make a full collection of the rocks, ores and minerals, and 

 whatever illustrates the economic geology of the state, and deposit the 

 same in the rooms of the State University, or such other place as may 

 be provided for the same, constituting a museum of practical and sci- 

 entific geology. Said commissioners shall also make full collections 

 of soils, native fertilizers, cultivated and other useful plants, constitut- 

 ing a museum of practical and scientific geology, and deposit the same 

 as aforesaid." The act also provided that " the sum of six thousand 

 dollars per annum, for the term of six years, is hereby appropriated, 

 to be drawn from the treasury quarterly on warrant of the governor, 

 and paid to persons entitled to receive the same; which sum shall be 

 in full for salaries of commissioners, assistants, rent of room, and all 

 other expenses incident to said survey, exclusive of printing the an- 

 nual reports of said commissioners." 



The survey thus authorized was not begun until the following year, 

 1858. In that year Prof. Hall and Dr. Carr employed, at their own 

 expense, Col. Charles "Whittlesey, to explore the country between the 

 Menomonee and Oconto rivers, " as a preliminary to more extended 

 surveys to the northward." In the spring of 1859, they made an en- 

 gagement with Prof. "Whitney to make a careful survey of the 4ead 

 reo^ion. Prof. "Whitney having been employed as chemist and miner- 

 alogist in the Iowa survey, had become, to a certain extent, familiar 



