Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-10-05
VOL. XII..No. $50
GEOLOGICAL AND TOPOGRAPHIC
CAL SURVEY.

no, OF The STATE Gf Ierm0nl:
In answer to inquiries respecting tho
probable time, expense, &c. necessary to
execute n geological and Typographical
survey of the state, beg leave to submit
the following:
In answering the several points Of inquiry
which naturally arise respecting geologic
cal and Typographical survey Of the state
OF Vermont, it is necessary to state briefly
what is to be done IN both cases.
Ia n geological survey, the character o.
the various rock formations which support
the soil must be ascertalned, and these
characters and their relations must be com.
pared with those Of similar rocks in other
parts of the world. The peculiarties Of
known mineral velns-the regions where
valuable mineral treasure such as metallic
ores, coal beds, mari bottoms, useful sub.
stances for architectural and other purposes,
may exist and Of course, be wisely sought
for. must be pointed out, and also the re-
gons where, judging from the experience
of the world, It will be in vain to look for
them. The nature Of the various coverings
! which ovorlle the solid foundations of the
state must also be investigated and their
relations to The natural and artificial vege.
ta'ion found on them.
The connexion OF these facts with such
natural causes as are known TO have opera
led IN the world, or are now in action,
needs also to be traced as far as practicable.
Al this needs to be drawn out in the
form Of an elaborate report, accompanied
with such maps. sketches and illustrations
as may be ncediul to give clear view Of
the subject 10 the reader. In addition to
this the report must be accompanied with
vouchers. so to speak, for the truth of much
that is stated in it, in the shape of we'll
selected specimens OF the various rocks.
ores important imbed1ed minerals, organic
remains, &c. which shall have been found
in the survey One set of these specimens
properly labelled and arranged should be
placed in cases in the state house, or such
other place as the legislature shall deter.
mine, and one other set equally complete.
or as nearly SO as the nature of the case
will admit of, should be furnished to each
of the colleges in the state, to be kept in
each instance by itself, that it may be ever
at hand for examination in regard to the
, facts and doctrines of the report.
In a typographical survey, the inquiry is
not what is the nature of the rock or soil
, of a particular spot, or what is il good for,
or how came it there, but simply Where is
the spot in reference TO other remarkable
S ONES in the world. The work to be done
. is substantially the following. Surprising
e all needful instruments TO have been pro-
e vded and properly tested, the first thing TO
n be done is the measurement Of straight
line some miles in length in suitable posi-.
I ton, and the designation Of its extremeties
. Len lv hot far to
be determined at any time, to within q
hairs BREADTH The measurement of this
: line must be so precise and its straightness
e so perfect, that admitting it to be 10 miles
: in length, the result should not vary two
c inches from the truth, So far as the most
IS perfect ia 'lrumens could show. The pre-.
else latitude or longitude of its extremelies
need also to be determined by all accurate
d available means. By observations, the dis.
tances from its extreme,ies to points on The
J. highest visible peaks of mountains, and the
7, distances from these points to others on
the tops of other mountains, must then be
, ascer,aned, When series of lines, the
e longest that can be accurately established,
has been in this manner extended over the
I'd state, the spaces between them must be
subdvded, by getting the distances be-
y tween intermediate, lower and nearer
d points, and so on TIL the fixed known points
~ are as near 10 each other as shall be th0t
II necessary for all future purposes of surveys.
Every step of this process, as far as it
It. may be carried, together with multitude
is of collateral experiments and observations
ID necessary TO insure precision in the app.
ct cation of the Instruments, must also be re-
he corded in report, so that every competent
We person can see how each result was obtain
ut ed, and how far its accuracy can be relied
on.
;" From comparison of these two objects
~ it will be seen that they differ in almost ev
~ cry point. The geological survey will de.
:! mand ncessant activity and extensive travel
- The Typographical survey will demand ex.
~ treme caution and cannot proceed actively
=, In the former. as many points as possible
% must be visited, aud the space between
hem must be scanned with an obseIvan
w eye; while in passing from place to place
w ~ most cases. the toughest and most un'
" frequented route must be taken, and the
ay at each place be but short. ln The
~, latter, as few points as possible must b.
CIV VISITED, in passing from one to the other
the smo0thest route, DO it ever SO long
" must be taken and the whole attention
occupied in the careful transportation o
'" instruments, Moreover the stay IN eacl
ey place must be Of considerable duration
Nc The sort of manual labor ncedful ~ tn
% former wl be mostly of q rough and VIC
lent character, out IN the latter the mos
pains taking deIlcacy mus, be as constant
practised.
no Again, the geological survey must cove
Dir the achoie state. Every town must be visi
ne ted; geological map of The whole stat
nd laid down, or the enterprise will DO reck
no oned to have failed IN an important degree