Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-10-05

any competent judge, that a correct exhi
biton OF the true slate of the case will do |
much to dspel this deuson. and show our
community that when they are led by one
or two inducements standing in strong
and decctfu light, to forsake the green
hills OF their forefathers for the prairie soils
of the west, they are leaving behind ten
fold greater and more numerous advantages,
calculated to make themselves aud their
posterl'y, prosperous, virtuous and happy.
IL the benefits Of an accurate topvgraph
teal survey are not SO obvious to the minds
OF oil, they are none the less real. The
Importance of such a work in fixing evev-
lasting points of reference, for all future
divisions o. the state into either great or
small portions, and the consequent saving
of contention about disputed boundaries,
the precision which it will give. in fine, to
every kind Of geographical determination,
cannot be too hig0 thought of. But this
is far from being he only consideration
which ought to hd~ weight in the minds of
them who are toEdecIde on the measure.
The durable reputation of the state is too
deeply concerned in it TO be overlooked in
its consideration. In this respect, it is
not saying too much to assert, mat no lie.
gslative act could be passed, which would
be more deeply engraven in history, than
the one which should lead to the execution
Of the work in question for the moment
1t is completed, the state becomes one Of
the few great centres in the scientific world
and is connected with those of Europe and
Asia, in relation which can never be bro.
i, al Il 49,. .
earth change their places. 1t is not easy
to believe that. if the people Of this state
are 10 be benefited Ia so important degrees
by the accomplishment of both of these OBJ
jects, they would willingly hesitate in the
, execution of them when the entire expense,
unless the preceding estimates are greatly
too lou, would not exceed an Average of
TEN CENTS for each inhabitant of it the
! expense being, moreover, distributed over
several years.
On the subject of the expense proposed.
particularly for the geological survey,
wish TO add a few words to what has al
ready been said. | have not any informa.
, ton at hand as to the amount both Of time
and money already expended in such a
f work by any other state, save in one case,
b that of Massachusetts. In reference to
S that have only in view. information given
/, in the report of Prof E. Hitchcock, who
{ was employed in making the geological
1 survey of that state.
G He occupied but little more than three
$ gears in ing the required examlnat ION
y and his work exhibits an amount of valua
; BILE information, which is most creditable 10
e his abilities and industry. But lest aly one
Il should infer that Vermont, being a smaller
n state than Massa chusetts, oughtto need q
!, less time for its examination. stead oil
r greater DIS have proposed. think il pro
d per to note one or two important differen
ces in the Two cases There have been for
n manv years considerable number Of SCI
If eutlfc gentlemen, residing in the state oil
. Massachusetts, making ocal examinations,
c and connecting their results, and these re
t suits haye been still more enriched BY the
i. abors Of many other persons in the ada
cent states. A this body of information
=. was directly available to that gentleman
e references to which appear in almost every
: part Of his report, and in his own case says
e -"had not, previous to receiving my com
!. mission, travelled nearly as far, and obtain.
f ed nearly as much information relative tC
S the geology of the state, az since that peri.
e cd, my report could hardly have been tot.
Y cradle. if it is so now. AS it is, can re.
d gard it only as the commencement of the
. work of exploring our rocks and minerals
1t should be noted that so important have
n his past labors been deemed, that he is now
n occupied under a new commission in carry
E. ing the investigation to farther extent.
In the case OF this state, there is almost
G n total want ofthose sources of Information
d TO which he had such ready access, and
!, which saved him so large an amount of la
H Dor. So little has been done in this way
!; in Vermont that it is almost entirely new
S field.
e In regard to the expenses of his work
" up to the making of his report, and before
d its publication he in forms Us in his intro.
d survey, preparing specimens, SC, was only
is two thousand and thirty dollars. This may
n seem surprisingly small, compared with The
e time ana labor that must have been eXpen
n ded, and no less so when compared will
the sum in the preceding estimate.
n | was Informed by gentleman who wa
n concerned in the measure, that the two
n thousand and thirty dollars covered barely
n the expense incurred, independent of am
remuneration whatever for the labors o
n Mr.. H.. that in fact he did the work 70
n nothing. This statement of the case vii
remove the surprise which any one ma,
n experience at first on hearing the smal
n amount of expense paid out IN that inst ance
have not felt thar should be justified b,
n that example in leaving out of my estimate
n moderate CONDENSATION To whoever m n h
:, be employed in making geological surve,
n of this state.
N In rega,d to the best mode of proceedin!
~ in case /. should be decided to have eilhe
=, or both of the proposed surveys entere,