Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-02-21
Agriculture.
REPORT


was referred so nuch Of the GOvernor's
Message as relates to a Geological survey
of the State. have had the same under
consideration, and beg leave TO oiier the
following Report
Nit.l re,ari 10 a Geological survey OF
the Stale, few years ag. Professor Van.
uuxenl was employed a very limited time
Oh meteorological survey. The time al
lowed wa, too short for any useful result,
nor ought the State 10 be satisfied with any
mere Neurological research. Mrneralo9y
is one thing, and Geology another: and
embraces il much greater extent OF knowi-
edge than usually falls to the share OF a
mere Mineralosist. 1t is in very high
degree probable, that a large portion OF the
surface of our State has been heretofore
the bottom of the ocrau, or lorniedby par
lal volcanic elections, and that he soil en-
closes organic remains OF tiSl. OF ANIMALS,
and Of plants, either not now known, or
not existing in the same elements. For
the purpose of accuracy, il requires per
son well skilled, MOI merely in the Mineral
substances that characterize the Strata, but
in comparative Anatomy, 81 Botany Ge-
oIoeisls have divided tho surface oil our
Globe into classes of Strata. These Stra-
ia are characterized by The Mineraiosicai
constitution Of The mass, thai colnposes
ea-h stratum, by the imDibed minerals pc
cuiar to each, by their relative sub posi-
,ion and super position. by the organic re-
mains Of shells, fishes, animals, and plants
included, al varlnus depths within them.
In Geological survey OF this State.
il ought 10 be required OF the Su: reyor I"
designate q huundarize The various for
nations, and the strata of which they are
composed, to mark the order of theirasu-
per position, 10 note their dip and extent
lie ought ,ilcn, 10 'akn up The sublecI of
uscfui Miu.r,,!ug,; to survey particularly
aud buuudarizc the Shell Lime. the Iron,
aud The Gold Districts. This Survey
would of course include The whole Lime
stone strata. and any other products that
could be applied to useful purposes.
Your Committee will briefly enumer-
ate some of the advantages, necessarily
resulting from IA Survey thus made.
1t would be useful 10 the State, in lis
bea ring upon a cricuiure. Ii is believed
that considerable tracts of land in South
Carolina, are capable of being rendered
permanently fertile by The discovery of
Marl and o!!ler appropriate Mineral a
mendments. This has been realized with
iii few years, by several Of our sister
States.
In The discovery Of useful Metals -
That many of The Ores, As Copper, Lead.
&c. exist in The primitive portions of South
Carolina, in workable quantities, can
scarcely admit cf doubt. though hey are
probably under character too much dis
guised for detection bv ordinary observers
possibly Tin, Silver, Bysnuth, Anti
mony aud Patina, may also he found
There is surely nothing in the formation
10 forbid their occurrence; but. on the
contrary, much to favor it.
In the dcvelopemeni If numerous ma
teriaIs for the Arts, as for Architecture,
States, Roofing, and Flagging Stone, Ce-
meuts, Claws, for Porcelain and Pnttccrs,
and materials for Alum, Copperas, Sulph-
uiic Acid. &c.
The dctec,ioll Of Mineral Waters
Such a Survey seems still farther matter
public interest fromihe reasonable pros.
pecr which exists for the discovery ofsome
of the resources on the line of The Great
Western Rail Road.
In the event of such discoveries, it is ca :
sy to perceive The effect it would have in
promoting that important enterprize.
Your Committee would therefore re-
specfuIy recommend the adoption of the
following Resolutions:
|. Rrsoired That Geological Survey
Of this State, upou :, oasis commensurate
with the magnitude ofthe obiec, to be al
taiued, is an enterprise thar may rightlully
claim the encouragement of every class of
industry, as involving more or less of prob
able utility 10 each, and is intimately con-
uccted with the advancement Of the Arts
and Scicnccs-of Agriculture, Manufac
lures and Commerce.
2. Rcsotred, That The Governor cause
a Geological Survey of this State TO he
made, as soon AS circumstances will ad-
init; and he is hereby empowered 10 ap-
point and contract with some suitable per-
sou TO perform the same.
3. Resolued, That it shall be the duty
Of the Governor 10 cause TO be laid hclorc
The Legislature, al its annual sessions, a
detailed account of The progress ollhe sur
vey together with the expenditures in pros
ecutipg The same.
4. Resolved, That the person who shall
he employed to make the Geological Sur
vey, shall be required TO select complete
suits ofspecimeus Of all the rocks and min
erals in South Carolina College, Co|um
bin, and the other in the Medical College,
Charleston.
5. Resotred. That the sum Of ten thou
sand dollars be appropriated from the pub
lie Treasury, subject L. The discretion Of
Ih. Governor. aud 10 he expended by him