Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-10-05
already alluded to, il would be important
and crodu ,hLo 10 the state,

branches of labor are quite ncompatI0'e'
and that TO AVOID annoying embarrassment
and certain disappointment, they must be
made To devolve upon different individuals.
Furthermore, to insure harmony, respon |
sibili,y and efficiency, each survey must be |
placed in the charge of one individual, TO
whom oil others employed 10 1t must DC
subordinate. and all persons so employed
must be selected, or fully approved by MN,
In estimating the amount of force ana
time necessary to perform the geological
survey, several distinct considerations must
not be overlooked. list. If q comparison
be made etween this state and any other
district of equal size in the northern states
! believe that the event will show thal the
geological characteristics are more numer'
Gus and peculiar in this region than IN any
other selected as above proposed. 2, rms
region has been so little examined that II
would call foe more investigation TO deter
mine its geology than any other OF equal
size in New England supposing it
to be in no WAYS peculiar. Geologically
speaking, it is almost ne,o field. Again,
considering in the Sd place the usages aud
fiscal resources Of the state, it is no: to be
supposed that as great an expenditure,
even in comparison with its size, will be
incurred in this enterprise by Vermont. as
has been incurred by some of the states of
the Union; but at the same time the work
must be carried to certain degree of com
peteness. or the results will be so general
and vague as to do but little in promoting
the wealth or the credit of the state. d.
Whether the wOrk had better be done as
rapidly as practicable, or occupy a longer
time. of course calling for less annual
expenditure, is also a consideration TO be
had in view; but that need not occupy any
attention in this place. If that consldera.
ton be laid aside. think the following
mode of proceeding most desirable. A
commission being given by proper authority
10 all individual to proceed with the survey,
l would have him associate with himself
another. deemed his equal in ability and
fidelity, and who in case Of the provden-
tlal interruption of The labors of the prn-
cipa, would be expected to succeed him 10
the charge. To these two let there be
joined two competent assistants. They
might be young men, so far acquainted
with the subject that they could render
direct aid in nves'igaton, and whose opn
ions would be worthy OF some attention in
doubtful points, and who could be safely
trusted to do some thngs, as selecting
specimens, making occasional re.cxamina-
tions, &c. To these must be added two
able bodied. trusy and capable laborers, to
assist in the packing and transportation Of
minerals, the conveying of the means OF
subsistence and the performance Of other
necessary offices. These six persons would
be divided into two parties of three each.
The survey would thus proceed in two sep
arate districts, IN conformity to a plan
decided upon after due consultation. The
principal and his associate would frequently
interchange views and information as to
the region each one would be specially
charged with, and if need should arise,
they would examine some portions together.
After proper intervals, at the close of the
season if not before, each would become,
by means OF full personal communication
of their observations. fully possessed of the
views of the other, and better prepared to
proceed in the work afterwards. The
labor of collecting proper specimens would
be constantly going on, boxes of them
being assembled at the most convenient
points to be transport ed thence to general
place Of deposit, after the labors of the
field were over for each year. After
weighing the subject in my mind as care.
full as am able, have come to the con.
clusion, and am confirmed in my opinion
by that of an experienced geoogist now in
public employment of this kind, that
with this force the survey can be completed
in tUo yeurs. What then ought to be the
annual expenditure
Taking into consideration the great
responsibility and labor of the employment
and the unavoidable hardships 10 which the
persons engaged in it must be subjected
during nearly or quite six months of The
year, while they must be no less closely
occupied for the remaining part of it. in
preparation of specimens for their fna
disposition and in celebrating their reports
considering moreover. that besides the grea
expense inevitably attendant on so much
travelling in the summer season, it car
hardly fail TO be the case that the princpa
and his associate must incur some extra
expense for visiting, in the winter season
collections and persons out of the state
for calculating important and doubtful
particulars, think that the annual sal
ary of the principal ought not to be less
than fifteen hundred dollars. that of hi:
associate fourteen hundred dollars, and thai
OF the two associates, each eight hundred
dollars. Besides these sa laries there shoult
be allowed to the principal and his associ
ate, four hundred dollars each for the pa,
OF the laborer and his support, for the
transportation of specimens and other Incl
denla expenses. The allowance of this
sum Tor that purpose would be much pre-
ferab'e to having them keep an exact &C.
count OF expenditures for such purposes
such account to be audited and paid after
wards. Such an account would unavoida
bly, contain so many unusual. and not easily