Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-06-08


subject doubtless convinced the Lesisla.
ture of the great necessity and advantage
Of such a survey. The first official no.
iice of the matter by our State. we find
in the message of Governor Floyd to the
Legislature in December, 1893. in which
he says:
"Whilst engaged in the improvement
OF the State by constructing roads for the
safe and speedy transportation of the
products OF agriculture, we ought not TO
be unmindiul of the great wealth which
lies buried in the earth, which only re-
quires the examination OF men of science
20 bring before the country, and make
known lis value and usefulness to CAPT
talists, who would be induced to engage
IN fitting it for commerce, thereby Gre
ating new sources of wealth. 1t is well
known that Virginia affords, perhaps,
the most extensive mines of iron of any
other country Of the same extent, and
fine specimens also Of gold, lead, copper.
plaster OF Paris, or gypsum. and mex
haustible mines of bituminous coal, be-
sides MANY valuable earths which con-
stitute the finest manures, as will more
| fully appear from the inspection of
communication herewith placed before
you, having been received from gen.
tleman of much scientific owledge and
rePutat ion.
The extensive benefit which may
result to the State by the appointment
OF a competent person to make geologi-
cal ey aminatons, is left for you TO de-
termille."
The gentleman whose communication
was transmitted by Gov. Floyd, was
Peter A. Browne. Esq. member of
the Philadelphia Bar, and who ranks
high as a literary and scientific gentle.
man, and is a particular devotee of the
deeply interesting science of geology.
We have his letter before us. He had
just returned from geological excur-
sion. i'll this State. He says when this
tour is taken III connection with ior>
mer visit to Wheeling, it will be conce-
ded that have seen enough of the State
to enable Ee to form rough estimate Of
its geological aud meteorological import
ance and do assure you, sir, although
my anticipations were far from being
meagre, Was asionished at the rasfness
and variety OF interesting objects in that
department of natural history. that were
! constantly developing themselves, INIT
ing The mind Of man to reflection and his
HAND TO INDUSTRY, and displaying at
every step the pisdom and benefcence OF
( The GREAT CREATOR" He then says
II am determined upon suggesting to
your Excelency the expediency of a
| Typographical. geolos ical archaeological.
aud psychological survey of Virginia"
Mr.. Browne expressed himself most
srdently in behalf OF his suggestion. He
| considered il would give proper CHECK
to unnatural migratioDs to the extreme
w est-bringing to light and usefulness
iuuumerable valuable and crude materi>
als-thereby not only enlarging the field
Of manufactures and the useful arts but
furnishing carrying for the canals AREA
dy constructed, aud assisting in new in
ternal improvements in locations Of equal
importance"
Mr.. Browne proceeds to point out
some Of the most obvious features in the
geology Of the State, that he p1ay not
I appear enthusiastic. After advertiHg TO
the great importance OF coal, he asks
wv here is the State III the Union? /
might. perhaps, safely ask where is the
country in the world. that can surpass
Virginia in the variety of positions and
abundance Of supply of this valuable
combusible? She possesses not only in
common with her sister States, liberal
quantity of bituminous coal In her Yves
tern and carbonaceous regions, where,
according to geological calculations btu
minous coal might be reasonably expect
ed to be found but in the Eastern di-
vision of the State, in few miles of the
tide water Of a majestic stream which
empties its ample waters into the Allan
tic Ocean-in a geological position, where
bituminous coal never would have been
sought after, because bitumihous coal
could not there have ever been expected
to have been found; bituminous coal Of
a good quality, aad apparently IN great
abundance, has been found nature
seeming as it were, in this instance, to
enable her to favor an otherwise highly
favored land, to have defined all her
own rules aud baffied the skill of the
gravest geologist, by depositing bitumi-
nous coal upon the naked and barren
bosom Of the uncarbonaceous granite +.
l have often wondered why this anoma-
ly did not strike the capacious and high
ly gifted miBd Of Jefferson and why he,
or some ether of the many rejecting
men OF Virginia, was not led by it to
inquire Uhut else there might be in store
for the good people Of that State BY
Deolectinp TO seek for them we migrate