Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1839-11-26
REPORT ON GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,
~ ,he Heuse Of RepresentaLlres nole N Ss,sion ::


ton and are strongly impressed with the Importance
of the object. The advantages OF such surveys are
no longer predetermined, The have been lor9 com
peied in many states u our Union, and are now IN
progress IN New Hampshire, New York and some
of the Western States. The effect has been. in n.
Jersey, 10 render her bar rem plains the most pro-
ductve land in the state, 10 increase their value
from to so dollars TO the acre. and 10 retain upon
them rich and industrious population, who were
about 10 abandon them Tor the more fertile praiiles
of the West In Massachusetts an impetus las
been given every branch Horticulture, and means
of improving the sell have been discovered, which
have already added much to the wealth of her neh
lieent farmers. Similar results have been produ-
ced in Maine, and New Hampshire has been so
much impressed with the advantages conferred up
on her neghbors that she has thsi season common
oed a similar survey. Probably state in New
England furnishes a better field for the geolopist
than Vermont. Her mineral treasures already de-
yeloped aie Of ncalcuable value, and would, If she
possessed the of easy access TO market, pro-
duce an income nearly equal 10 that OF her agrirul-
tural products. Iron, the most valuable OF all min
erals is found Of excellent quality in many parts
OF the state, and would, without doubt, should this
survey be made, be brought 10 light in many other
places, where its existence is not now Suspected
OF her granite, her hous furnishes beautiful
and impershahle eDsainple. Already she exports
every variety OF marble-the quarries Of ireestone
aud slate are becoming sources of wealth, and she
could now stock all the markets Of the world with
manufactures 1t cannot lie supposed that all
her mineral resources have been disclosed. A geo
logical survey will point out where these and other
minerals are to be sought, and where they may rea
sonably be expected to be found. 1t has been too
much the custom TO consider d geological survey
merely matter OF scientific interest that its
y object was to examine the several rock formations
determine the order in which they situated,
certain their mineral contents, and from this nor-
nation to overthrow some old theory establish
paxy tn Tho ,xti cl 1uV
rated TO produce such arrangements. II your com
mi,tee viewed the subject in that light they would
not certainly in the present state of our treasury,
with no other revenue but that derived from direct
taxation impose the slightest burden on the people
to promote it. They would leave it TO individual
enterprise. But as measure Of economy calcu-
lated to increase the resources OF the tax payers,
and thus render the support OF government less on
erous, they feel justified in recommending small
appropriation
The geoogisi of Maine estimated that more than
the whole expense of the survey had been saved to
the state by putting an end 10 the ndiscrminate
digging for minerals where never known TO exist
and to the waste of money in endcavoring TO render
ores productive which entirely valuecss.
But the dilion which it furnishes to the agricul-
tura resources of the country, is what renders "A
knowledge of its geology peculiarly Important
Geology has TO do, not only with the rocks which
form the crust of the EARTH but with the soil which
covers Them and which is formed from their disin-
teeration. Every rock forms peculiar soil which
varies in productveness according TO the materials
OF which it is composed, and which naturally pro-
duces vegetation peculiarto itself. The remains
OF vegetable and animal decompostons, form in
the course OF time, very important Ingredient
This is found to exist in very different proportions
in different soils. But important this material is
its quantity furnishes no exact measure Of fertility
1t may exist in state which units it for nourishment
OF certain plants, and requires the addition of
substance which will produce chemical change
that will adapt il 10 the nature Of the crop intended
to be raised. Thus, peat meadows, composed en-
tirely of vegetable remains produce nothing but
coarse bog grass, but when mixed with other soil,
from the most productive lands, may be converted
into a most valuable manure. The mineral contents
OF the soil are of no less importance. Wheat can
not be raised on soil destitute of lime, while In
dian requires but little Prof Hitchcock re-
marks, THAT facts indeed to warrant the CON
cusion, that without lime in some form, land will
not produce amy valuable vegetation" Without
chemical anal ysis, it can with certainty be de-
terminci that any soil, although situated upon lime
rock contains sufficient quantity of this article
II may have been exhausted by repeated cultivation,
or the original soil may have been washed away and
another deposited in its place. This was found TO
lie the case in Massachusetts-the land in the lime
stone district possessed but little more of this sub
stance than the most primitive portions of the state.
I The vegetable principle is not the same in all
soils. and on this account, different chemical agents
are required TO render il active Some lands REQUIRE
lime and others potash. These non now supposed
to act as furnishing an appropriate stimulus 10 the
plant, but by producing a chemical change in the
NITROUS paris of the soil. Without the aid of sci
enoe or the light o! experience, the practice OF the
agriculinrisi must be entirely empirical.
While soils are deficient in vegetable mat
tiers, others found, composed almost entirely of
this material. These last capable of being con-
verted into most excellent manure. In Massachu-
sets quicksand has been discovered which is
wonderfully ie taizing in its operations upon the
adjacent land The effects of the survey in that
state have already become apparent. Immense
quantities oi earth, Astounding in vegetable and fer
tlzing matter discovered IN her low lands, where
II has been accommodating for ages. and in many pla-
COS beds OF mari have been found beneath which
supply the necessary mineral ingredients The far
mer las taken advantage Of these discoveries and
by transporting the bog TO the hi and the hill to
the bog, immensely increased the fertility of both
A geological survey would he imperfect, which
did not anaiize all the variety Of soils in the state
pointing out materials in which they may he improv-
ed, and II must be much less successful than what
II has been elsewhere, il such means Improvement
are not found near at hand.
There are considerations of minor importance
which IN ordinary seasons would justify the adop-
on OF TINS measure but at this time of general EN-
barrassmens in monetary affairs, had no influence
II