494 Wisconsin State agricultural society. 
this season, we have the fact that our iron ores are not confined, as we sup¬ 
posed they were, to the northern portion of the state, hut are distributed over 
a large portion of the southern and central part, affording a greater variety 
of valuable ores than is usually found within such limits. In their undevel¬ 
oped condition, no man can form a correct estimate of the extent or value of 
these ore districts. Like undeveloped ore districts everywhere else, they are 
subject to uncertainties that no practical or scientific knowledge can wholly 
guard against. Nature, as a general thing, gives only on the surface the in¬ 
dications, with a few illustrative specimens, of her richer deposits that lie 
buried beneath the surface. These indications I have furnished in this re¬ 
port, the specimens I have placed in the museum; and from these things I 
hope every one interested will form his own opinion. There are but two 
places in the southern or central part of the state where any attempt has been 
made by actual work to develop the deposits thus indicated by surface ap¬ 
pearances ; one at Ironton, in Sauk county, already referred to, the other at 
Iron Ridge, in Dodge county. This latter place was examined and reported 
on, several years ago, by competent men, consequently it is well known* and 
well understood; I refer to it here only, to say that it is still in a very pros¬ 
perous condition. In a letter just received from J. C. Ricketson, Esq., the 
general agent, I learn that there have been taken from this deposit the past 
year, 1872, 90,000 tons of ore. 
In view of the comparatively unlimited supplies of iron ore of good quality 
and various in kind, it must be a matter of great interest to the state to know 
what her chances are for fuel, flux, fire clay, refractory building stone and 
other material necessary for manufacturing purposes. In my investigations 
I have had an eye to all of these things, but am not prepared to give a full re¬ 
port of them here. They will form a part of some future report, if the work is 
continued, or what would be very much better, if a provision is made for a gen¬ 
eral geological survey of the State. I will state here, however, that from facts 
already collected, it is likely that all these things in the state will be event¬ 
ually self sustaining. 
Your obedient servant, 
JOHN MURRISH, 
Commissioner of the Survey of the Mineral Regions. 
Mazomanie, Jan. 8th, 1878. 
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