that side of the stream opposite to the dip of the strata, they may
be oonduoted free from the difficulties before mentioned. This
bed of coal is associated with a series of shales and sandstoneis,
in a manner similar to that of the other beds in the state. The
coal is highly bituminous, a character in common with all that
has been seen in the state, and it may safely be said that none
other need be looked for on the peninsula.
From facts now before me, I am led to hope, that coal will be
•found in the elevated hills of the northern part of the peninsula,
easterly from Little Traverse bay ; a circumstance which, should
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404 HOUSE DOCUMENTS.
it prove to be the caae, will add much to the value of that portion
of the state.
Salt Springs aub State Salt Lands.
The subject of salt springs, which was laid before you, some-
what at length, in the first annual report fVom this department,
has been partially re-examined during the past year, and the ob-
servations considerably extended* These renewed examinations
have served to add confidence to the hope then expressed, that a
portion of these springs will eventually prove of value to the
state. Many springs, before unknown, have been observed, and
would be more particularly noticed, had not the facts, involving
the main question^ been before submitted*
The progress which had been made in the improvements di-
rected to be commenced '* at one or more of the state salt springSiT
has been duly submitted to you in a separate report Since the
reception of your instructions to continue the improvements^
which had previously been partially suspended, the work has been
renewed with a vigor commensurate with its importance. Should
the examinations in progress lead to favorable results, ias we trust
they will, this important addition to the products of the state, oao-
not fail to add to its prosperity ; while, should we &il in our an-
ticipations, the income which may be derived from the lands, wiU
i^reatea sinking fund, that may soon be made to reimburse tothe
state, the amount which may be expended for that purpose.
Of the salt springs granted to our state by the general govern-
ment, five yet remain to be located ; which, with their contiguous
lands, will amount to thirty sections. The location of these lands
has been thus far delayed, in consequence of the unfinished con-
dition of the United Sutes' surveys, tliey not havii^ been sufl&-
ciently completec to allow those selections to be made which were
most desirable. Nor have we, as yet, been enabled to oblun
from the general land office *' plats" of the sections of country,
in which it is proposed to complete those locations. Sinec» ac-
cording to the terms of the grant, the returns of these lands ure
required to be made during the current year, it beoonnes a matter
pf no small nooment to complete the selections at the earliest day
,possible ; in view of which, so soon as the necessary information
can be obtained from the general land office, steps will be taken
to complete the locations.
Zoological and Botanical Departmebits.
These departments of the geological survey, whicht during the
year 1837, were united under the direct charge of Dr. Abraham
Sager, have, in conformity to the provisions of the revised act»
been separated into two distinct deportments, that of zoology hav-
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is^ baeo left, in charge of Dr. Saser, while th«t of boUny
placed under charge of Dr. John Wright.
. The success which luis attended the labors of the heads of
these departments, is of the most flattering kind, and afibrds am-
ple proof that the high character which those gentlemen have
sustained as men of science and industry, has not been misplaced,
and that we may anticipate from their labors the RM>st interesting
and useful results.
The subjects falling within the scope of these departments, be*
ing of a more abstruse character, do not so readily admit of being
treated in a disjointCii manner, as the other subjects of the geolo-
gical survey ; for wbich reason the heads of these departments,
m most of the stites where these surveys are in progress, have
not been called upon for annual reports, it being intemied to em-
body the whole at once, in a final and connected report As our
own state is somewhat differently circumstanced* having been
less explored, it was deemed advisable to throw together such
catalogues as would furnish those persons who have devoted at-
tention to the subjects in our state, a skeleton of the progress that
has been made, hoping thereby to elicit such additional informa-
tion as may be at hand. The reports of the zoologist and bota^
nist, numbered 1 and 2, are hereto appended.
The feet that there is, in reality, but one science in nature, and
that all the subdivisions of that science are to a great extent, ar^
bitrary, is frequently lost sight of in our Utilitarian age : a cir-
cumstance to which, no doubt, may in part be ascribed the gene-
ral disposition to scan results closely, while the steps necessary
to bring about those results are scarcely considered We are
thus too often disposed to consider as of little value or importance^
those very subjects, the laborious investigation of which are daily
adding to our comfort and enjoyment.
The man who should richly endow an institution wouid > be
looked upon as a benefector; while the man of science ^rttt
should engage in a patient investigation of the habits of the He*-
aian fly, and thereby be able to suggest some successful expedih
eot for avoiding the ravages committed upon our wheat fieidi^
.would, no doobt^ be looked upon as one engaged in a work of no
vakie to his fellow men ; 3ret, if we look at results, the latter
would be much more eminently entitled to the name of bene-
factor.
One of the fathers of natural history, after carefully studying
the habits of a small wonn that had proved destructive to the
timber in the navy yards of his ccuntry, suggested a simple yet
perfect remedy, thereby saving annually more than a million of
dollars to his government ; yet, during these investigations, be •
was stigmatized as one engaj^ in a work which was wholly un-
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4M HOUSB DOCUMENT&
worthy Ms alteDtkm, and which could not ponibly prove of any
practical value.
The subjects of geology may be regarded as so intimately con-
nected with the other departments of natural history, as to beat>-
•olately inseparable. '* All the brandies of natural history, and
moat of the other 8ciences» duster around geology, and lend to it
and each other a mutual support No man can make great ad-
vances in all the branches ot geology ; the proper course to bo
pursued, is for each individual to b^x)me acquainted with the out-
lines of the subject, and then devote his attention toaome particu-
lar branch of inquiry. It is by such a division of labor, that
geology has advanced so rapidly within a few vears. The geo-
logist must have the results of such labors before he can draw
definite conclusions on some points of geology. "^
When the work in the departments under considaration shall
have been completed, it is proposed to embody in a final report^
in a condensed yet intelligible manner, all that has been eNciied
daring the progress of the examinations, as well as what is now
embodied in abstract works upon those subjects. While an at-
tempt will be made to rendt^r this of value to the man of science,
the subjects of practical utility will, nevertheless^ be kept con-
stantly in view.
Tbe medical properties and various uses to which the indige-
nous plants of our state may be applied, are at this time scarcely
known, and less appreciated, by our citizens ; and while we aie
looking abroad for many articles necessary to our health and
comfort, the very same artides, or those which will answer the
purpose equally well, are growing in abundance around us.
COLLBCTIONS FOB THS St^ITB UnIVEBOTT.
That portion of the duties assigned the geological board* in-
volving the collection of specimens of natural history for the oni-
a^ersity, has received as large a share of attention as a taitbAil
petforinanoe of the other duties assigned would permit. Hie
preaent time, no doubt, offers a more favorable opportunity to
adpply the parent university and its braoehes with specimaDS of
aatnral history, than any that will again soon occur. In vtew of
the limited facilities which are affor^d for the study of these aub-
jects in the colleges of our country, as also of the charaoier wtiieb
the addition of such facilities would give to our state institutioa»
the boar^ of regents have manifested a deep anxiety to furnish
every facility in their power lo aid in making these coUectiona ea
perfect as possible.
The collections already made in the several departments of
csineralogy, geology, zoology and botany, are in sudi condition
*GoT«nior Mwcy'i report to the legiilatiire of the itaCe of New York, on the snfaijeet
of the geolofiGal rarvey of that itate.
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HOVSB DCKIUMENTS. Mf
that they may be really tranfferrad to the uniTerahv, at Ana
Arbor, whenever the proper arrangements shall have been ina<t«
by the regents for that purpose.
The board of regents have already fumtthed ample rooins» in
this city, as a temporary place of deposite for the oollections iww
beung mada.
ToFoa&APHicAii Dkpartmemt, Maps, &c.
Tlus department of the geological survey, which was duly or-
ganized under the provisions of the act of 1888, haa been pmced
under tho immediate charge of 8. W. Higgins, Esq;, whose ro*
port* Na 8, is hereto appended.
The arduous duties connected with this department have been
performed with a degree of energy and devotion which deserve
the highest encomiums ; and we trust it may result in furnishing
ibr oor state an amount of accurately delineated gaographim
and topographical informatioa, which will not be exceed^ byangr
state in our union.
The preaent time is an exceedingly fovorable one for cari^iiig
forward this portion of, the work ; fur at this time, while the state
angioeers are engaged upon our works of internal improvement^
and while the United States* surveyors are engaged in subdivid-'
ing the northern part of the peninsula^ we are enabled, with a
oomparatively small amount of labor and expense, to collect a
vast amount of the most aocarate geographical and topographic
eal information, which unless recorded at once would soon be
lost
The necessity for the construction of accurate geographical
maps» fat the delineation of the geology and topography of the
stale* can be easily understood : and without the former, the pro*
jectiao of the latter would foe a dead letter. The inaccuraoy of
our present maps, together with their reduced scale, is well kiKHra;
and the neeessitv for the construction of those of a larger aod
more perfect character, has been deeply felt by every person
Vrhose attention has been called minutely to the subject. In or«
der to avoid the embarrassment which this defective character of
geographicnl information is daily producing, it is very desirable
lluit the remedy should be provided, with as little delay as may
be oompatible with the magnitude of the work.
Maps of the seprate counties of the state have been oom«
flseaced, upon a scale of two miles to the inch ;* a size which
will enable us to place upon them most of that information wUoh
will be required for the use of town and county officers ; such as
ike length of fractional section lines, variations in the surveys,
width of streams at the- crossings of the section lines, principal
^Thii icale k a fVactioD bner than that adopted by ihe rarroTor gvnaral of iheatali
9i N#w Yoric, lor iIm aapa of that state, which w«ve oanalnifltad under hie diracliaB^
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409 HOUSG DOCUMENTa
roads. Sec &c Upon these maps, when compleiedy wilt also be
iotroduced the cooifdete geology and topography of the coun-
try.
Id order that the materials upon which to base these maps may
alway» be at hand, the complete original United States' mv^Gyit
80 far as returns have been made to the land offices of the states
have been copied ; and steps have been taken to procure bom the
general land office those new surveys in progress, immediately
upon the transmission of the returns by ttie deputy surveyors.
These *' plats," however, only designate the small streams and
marshes at the crossings of the section lines, leaving the whole
interior of the sections to be filled uf^ In order to accomplish
^ the inunense work of filling up the deficiencies in the township
maps, each of the assistants engaged in the survey, is mstructed
to take into the field perfect copies of the original surveys of the
district in which he may be engaged, and to return the samewith the
streams carried out, across the interior of the sections, together
with an accurate delineation of the marshes, small lakes, raogei
of hills, the area of diflferent kinds of soils, timbered lands, open-
ingSf prairies, the courses of the township roads, Sec &c., as also
with the geology, and so much of the topography, as the. work
may warrant.
The difiicuhics connected with the construction of apcorate
maps, of the older counties of the state; arc much increased io
eonsequencc of' the inaccuracy of the original United States' sur*
veys. In fact* so great is the discrepancy, in many instances, as
to lead to the inference that some of the subdivisions were m2uie»
or platted* without going upon the ground. And where the h'nes,
in many parts of these counties, were *• run," the variation be-
tween the actual and proposed course is so great, as to render it
nearly impossible to make the ** work close." Many streams of
considerable magnitude, are wholly omitted upon these ** plats f
lal^s and swamps are placed where none exist ; and amall lake%
in a few instances, have been found to be upon sections widely
separated from those upon which they are represented, facts which
are known to have given rise to mistakes of a most serious cha-
racter. Instances can be cited where lands have been purchased
at the land office, by reference to the *' plats" on file, and those
lands afterwards found to be completely covered by the waters
' of a lake : others, where, in consequence of erroneous marks at
the corners of sections, lands have been ** entered" several mtlea
distant from those intended ; circumstaiices which tove given rim
to much individual distress.
In connection with this subject, I would respeetfuHy call yoor
attention to the importance of dividing the northern portion of the
peninsula into counties, and assigning to each a definite limit, with
as little delay as the progress of United States' surveys will per-
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HOUBB DOCtfMBNIlB; 498
mit Tii9 oMBt natural dftiiidnt may at vaaifiiy todetennhied
frMi iofbrmation which wiU beelieiteddoriii^ the contintitnc!^ d[
the work in progrew, a« at ai^ iiiture titvie4 By adopting thft-
course before private interest comes to c^laah opofi the tdbjeot,
much legislation may be avoided; at the same time that it will
throw ttiose portions of our state into such a form that they may
be more satisfactorily projected upon the maps now in progress.
No possible objection, it is conceived, can be urged against thi9
course, while it may fairly be supposed it will result in great
good.
Reports of Gwhoqical Assistants.
The repprts of Messrs. C. C. Douglass aud Bela Hubbard, as^
sistants in the geological department proper, of the survey, num-
bered 4 and S« are nereto appended. The great mass of ^(y
graphical and topographical infermaticWi whacb thej^ haxr* beeb io^
austrtuunly ec^aged in collectifig« could not be.lnid bef^preiyogu,
except in connection with complete maps of the counties iR'wbioiv,
tbe^ baife been engaged. The duties which were aasjgnedtth^fai)
assistants, notwithstanding the numerous diiQcukies by wh\<^ tliey^i
have been surrounded, have buea accomplished ip amfumer bi§t|ly
creditable ^ aod we have now oo file nearly all^thei maMet'f^q^h;
aila for ti» complete elucidation of ijae conditioB^ apd re^oovtiiri
Mwell as. for the construction of ip^pft of the. qonptiem jnifatfT
survey of whkib they have been eogagpd* . ^ :
The ^oosideratioo of that portion pf the work which relates
fiore particularly to agriculture* it baa beeo rieeined advia^b)^*
thus faff to defer, for the very ^opd Feasoq tba.^ sMffici<«it imetmn
ootyet^ plapseid for the complete aaalysi/^ pf tbe^ soils, a. labor
which i^iust he performed before minute practical conclusiona<aii>
b^ drawn. The extent of certain characters oi spiJn, in the om^*
tie^.e^amined, together with their adaptat^ to the. purppaea <>f'
agricuhore,and the remedies neces9ary to a^pply any defeqj^in
their comppsitipo, are sufcgects, to the considei;atjiiin) of which' oHidi .
time ^ already been» and will hereafter ji^idevoted- ^
Upon the first opeoipg of apring, it is proppsed to moaw tfia
miottte surveys Jn the southern counties of. the state, aod lo cooH
plate tiie work, in each of those counties^i aa , rapidly laa pimiliK
staooea will permit
.The difficuUiea by which we weresurcouodediap^rffctipgihff
aurvey, under the origkial act, have been removcid by the preseoi
plan of organizatioiv and moving on aa a whole,; tbe asaistaooei
aiid aupport given each other, by the sepanata dapartmentsw it
such, that a much larger amount of labor is accomplished thao^.
under aih^ ctroumstaocesy couki possibly be done* while the w^fk
is^ At Ifoe saaoe time, rendered uoiibrm aqd conrftplet^* .
In cMduaioo, I would respectfully tender through you my
51
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410 HOUSE DOCUMENTS.
graleAil acknowledgmeDts as well for the uniform kiadoMB wtlk
which J have been reeetv«d> as for the raluabie infornMOion mod
assistance which has been reodeved to the work in progress^ hf
the citiaens of our state.
DOUGLASS HOUGHTON.
SiateCMagitL
DOCUMENTS.
(No. L)
Report of DocL Abm. Soger , Zoologist of Geohgicdl Survey,
DetroUt January 12, isao*
To Douglass Hovqhtchi, 'State €ltologiti*
' Siki— In conformity to the provisions of an act approved Mardi
2i, 1938^ providing for a geological survey of (he state, the on-
dmigned respectfully submits the following report of the p r ogre sii
made in the zoological department.
Previous to solmiining the result of the investigation in thisd^
pavtment during the past year, permit me, for the satisfaction of
those whose lit)eralify and aeal for the interest of oar state autho*
rfased the survey, to present a condensed view of the objects unci
anticipated results of the idveitigation in this department.
To investigate as far as practicable the mode of existeftcei the
relative position, office and influence in the sentient organic woritf
of every anima! native to our state, from the msect of ephemeral
existence, the worm that wends its way darkling through a brief
and simple life, to the quadruped of most varied and c<mplicatied
structure and functions, more especially their relation to and in*
ftuencCf either direct and obvious, or indirect, upon the interest
and happinerss of man : operating by the developement of our in-
tellectual and morat fiatores, and ministerii^ to our physical ne*
cessities, — to ascertain if possible the means of renderm^ them di*
reollysubservient to our interests and avert the evils arising from
an eicessive devdopetnent of the specie8, - »to collect, preserve
and sjrstematioally arranget in order to display affinities of stmo^
ture, specimens of every species, and materials illustr tive of their
habits and histincts, the wtiole with a view to excite and dissemi-
nate a taste for the interesting and important study of Eor.logy>^
These appear to have been the objects contemplated by the le-
gislature that framed and enacted the bill authonzing the investi*
gation.
It must be obvious to every reflecting mind, that no wei) di»
rected or availing efibrts can be made, either to improve the ad-
vantages or avert the evils growii^ out of oar conneetioB with
Digitized by VjOOQ IC
HOUSE DOC tJMBtf FB. 41 1
the animal world, without ao intimate acquaintance with their
structure, capabilities and habits. Destitute of this knowledge,
we but strike in the dark* and are mor^ likely to impair than pro-
mote our interests.
It wid be seen at a glapce ^h^t ti)Q j»t)bject is of vast extent ;
and surely if the study of the phenomena of the inorganic world,
with a view to determine its general laws, ofwhitih to a^iiil o\jj*-
aelves to advance our interest, 19 worthy of encourtigerhenf tii of
last importance, not less fero are thdse manrfoKJ and varied mani-
fisstations of the Infinite that constitute the phenomefia of the or-
ffanic world, and the proper study of the Botanist and Zoolbgtst.'
Nor should we anticipate less important results when thc^e In-
dies have been prosecuted to the educin^i; those general pHnciples
that rule the organic creation, than we already derive fi-om an ac-
quaintance with those by which the inorganic world is di^ected and
governed* As intellectual pursuits, in moral interest arid stfblimi-
ty, they do not concede the palm of superiority to any other sub-
jects whatever. Surely the mind that can view from the pinna-
cle of the temple of science, at a glance, the whole organic world
outspread beneath him» can comprehend its vast and intricale ma-
chinery, and behold it moving by a few simple, uniform and un-
varying principles, is fiivored with a prospect not less sublime
than tlukt to whose intellectual vision the whole inorganic world
is revealed. '
As early in the season as the necessary arrangements and pre-
parations would permit, we commenced our labor, the results of
which will, in part, be found in the subjoined catalogue. Of many
of the species contained in the catalogue, the requisite number of
species have been preserved ; of some other species, a much lar-
ger number than was required have been collected, with a view
to foreign exchanges, and in consequence of the rarity of others,
not a sufficient number have been secured. Besides the species
enumerated in the catalogue, a very considerable number belonging
to the inferior class^ have been obtainedrbut do not yet admit of
arrangement in a catalogue. Although a considerable afnoutit of
materials have been coltected towards forming a history 6f the
•ubjects of our investigation, yet much remains to be accomplish-
ed before the subject can be said to approach completeness.
ABM. SA6ER, State ZodogxH*
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iifi HOUSE DOgUAfENOia
CATALOGUE.
Clas^ Mabcmalia.
Order Qus^drum^ji^
: Ffiip.,Vegperulionidae. Gi»y, Bats
Spb-farp. YospertilioDiDaQ,' Gray. ^
, Vespertilk) arcuaUis. Say.
Order F«raie* Lino. ,
Pa^. F^lidae .
. . IjuiHWoccideDtalw. Rich* Wolf
. , , , . Vulpes fulvua. L. Red fox
, Fam. Musteiidae* Sw.
. Siib-fenK Ursinfie, Sw.
Procyon lotor, t. RaocooQ .
, Subfiis^in. Mustelinae. Sw- .
. Pulorius Imreola. Guv« . Mink
Fam. Sorocidae. S.
Sorex parvus. Say. Sbrew
Scalops canadensis. Guv. Canada mde
Condylura macroqra* HarL Slar mmd moir
Order Glires. Linn.
. . Dtv. Jst CJavicuIata
Fiber zibeticus. L. Musk rat
Arvicola^-"
Meriones canadensis^ III. Jumping mouse
Spermophilus Hoodii^ F. Cuv.
Sciurus vulpinus ! Gm. Pox squinel
carolinenwa. h. Gray squirrel
Sciurus budspnius. L« Chickaree
n^er. L. Black squirrel
Tamja. striata, Kl. Ground squiniel
Div. Jbclaviculata
i*^»u» americaiuuu Ghl Americaii hare
Class Aves.
Order I^ptor9s
Pam. FaleoDidae
Sub-fam. Aquilinae. Eagles
Pandion americanus. Sw. Fish eagle
Aquila leucocephalus. Bald eagle
Sub-iam. Buteoninae. Buzzards
Buteo Sancti Johannis. Gm. Black hawk
lagopus.? Roughed legged hawk
lineatus, Aud. Red breasted hawk
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Circus eyaoeus. L. Marsh hawk
Sub-fam. Falconinae. Falcons
Faloa peregiinus. Gm. Wiandering falcon
sparverius. L. Amer. sparrow hawk
columbarius. L* Pigeoh hawk
Sub-fam. Acdpitnnae. Hawks
Accipher peDDsylvamous. Sw.
i^ooperi. Nutt. Cooper's hawk
Astur borealis. Sw. Red tailed hawk
Fam. Strigidae Owls
Scotophilus acadict. Sw% Little owl
Qtos. bracbyotus. Sw; ' Short eared ow!
â–¼ulfj^ris. Sw. Long eared owl
Asio virgiokma. Sw. Great horned owt
Ulula nebulosa. Cuv.. Barred owl
Njctea Candida. Sw. Snowy owl
Surnia funeiea. Dum. Hawk owl
Order Insessores — Perchers
Tribe Dentirostres
Fanu Jjaniadae
Sub^fam* Lanianae