servations, carried on by many of the Governments of Europe, and which with scarcely any expense to this state, will enable her to obtain both minutely correct topographical and geological maps of that interesting country, and such other information in the way of notes and specimens, as are necessary to form the basis for the final report on that portion of our territory.

The attention of the legislature is more particularly desired to this unfinished portion of our geological survey, from the fact that the present most favorable opportunity for acquiring all this information will be lost, if the conduct of these surveys, so far as relates to this State, be suffered to pass into the hands of those who have no connection with the state, or personal interest in her concerns, as would most probably be the case, were this department to be now suspended. Upon the obtaining, and with as little delay as practicable, the results of the surveys now commenced in that region, and which will without doubt be prosecuted by the United States, depends also the success of the state in making to the best a 'vantage, location of her unselected lands.

Character of the Materials belonging to the Department.

In addition to the collections in the several branches of natural history, already mentioned, are very voluminous collections of notes, mups, diagrams, engravings, &c., made during the progress of the survey, and designed for the state and county maps and the final report.

A wall-map of the state and maps of 15 counties are in the hands of an engraver, and in addition to the 4 already published, others are nearly if not quite completed, and their reception has been delayed only by the failure on the part of the engraver employed, to fulfil his contract. Negotiations had been commenced with other engravers, which were pending at the time of the death of the late state geologist. Besides notes and other necessary matter, there are in the hands of the state Topographer, plats on a large scale, of all the towns in the state, ready to be reduced to the scale adopted for the published county maps, so as to complete the plan desired and already in part executed.

To execute the engravings for the final report, the services of a wood engraver of great reputation and skill had been secured, on such terms, as to make the cost far below what is ordinarily charged

for such services. These have been cut by him from drawings by the State Topographer. In addition to these are many lithographs executed on stone by the latter officer, and it may be said without exaggeration that all these are in a style of art far superior to any that have ever been produced to illustrate a work of the kind in this country, more than two thirds of all these are now finished.

It was the ardent wish of Dr. Houghton to produce a work which should be an honor to his state, both in its matter and its execution. It needed but the power of his directing genius and the influence of his name, to make the geological report of Michigan rauk first amongst the scientific works of onr country.

In addition to the above suggestions, the importance of preserving the department in its present form, until its plan of operation can he fully completed, will be obvious, when we consider that otherwise a great part of the information and materials obtained atter so much labor, will become scattered and finally lost, the expense, labor and study of years will be thrown entirely away, our citizens will be deprived of the benefit of the undertakings just at a time when they had approached their full accomplishment, and a source of frequent information in matters affecting the interests of the state will probably be cut off forever.

The committee therefore earnestly recommend the continuance of the present organization of this Department, and the appropriation of the sum of $1000 for the salary of the state Geologist; $800 for that of the State Topographer, and the sum of $500 for the completion of the engravings for the final report, and incidental expenses. J. N. CHIPMAN, Ch'n Senaie Com.

G. W. PECK, Ch'n Huse Com.

[From the Books of the Auditor General,}

Ceological Survey in acconnt with the State of Michigan.

DR.

For what drawn.

$16,026 00

8,329 95 7,161 37

12.000 00

12,000 00

12,000 00

1841, No appro'tion, there being bal. to cred, survey.