Life and Character of C . E . Wright — Laivton. 309 
had acquired a good knowledge of the German language and 
his previous study and experience led him to know what he 
most wished to acquire. 
He studied first at the university of Berlin, where he be- 
came proficient in the use of the microscope in determining 
minerals, then a new feature in raineralogical work, which at 
that period had not been introduced into this country, his sub- 
sequent papers, in which this subject was introduced, being 
among the very first published in the United States. 
From Berlin he Avent to Freiburg to include some special 
studies, and afterward visited the mines and great metallurgic- 
al works in Germany, Sweden and England. 
Having thus spent three years abroad, he returned to America 
in 1873 and was immediately employed by Mr. Clarence King, 
Director of the U. S. 40th parallel survey, in making rock 
sections and determinations for the survey. While abroad he 
had also made the determinations of the suite of specimens 
for the Michigan geological survey which work was afterward 
gone over and endorsed by the celebrated lithologist Von Cotta. 
In June of the same year of his return, Mr. Wright opened an 
office and laboratory in Marquette, Mich., where he thenceforth 
made his home. He was successful from the outset. Skillful, 
accurate, kind and obliging, his services were in full demand 
and he speedily became the unquestioned authority on all scien- 
tific matters pertaining to the lake Superior iron ores. He 
found time to make an examination for the State of Wisconsin, 
of a portion of the Penokee iron range and his paper on that 
subject forms a valuable chapter in the state geological report. 
At the session of the Michigan Legislature in 1875-6, the 
office of commissioner of mineral statistics was created and 
Mr. Wright was appointed to the position, which he held un- 
til 1883. The volumes that were published on the mineral re- 
sources of Michigan during this period, were esteemed of great 
practical value and have received the highest praise from min- 
ing men and geologists everywhere. Four years ago Mr. 
Wright accepted the office of state geologist and he forthwith 
devised a plan or rather he matured one, which had grown out 
of his long experience and intimate knowledge of the country, 
for a systematic geological survey of the upper peninsula and 
of the state. 
