The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-03-07
The Farmer.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Your committee to whom was referred so much of
tho Governors message relates TO geological sur
vey, present the following Report
Your committee, in the examination OF that portion
the Governors message which was referred to
them, have had it for their object to investigate the
Arguments by which the truth of his Excellency's as
sumption, 'tbat geological survey has connection
with the internal prosperity of the State,' is demon
,stNed I1
The investigation into which the committee has
been enabled to enter, has, as will be perceived, con
vinced them that this connection is not only an in
innate, but necessary one 1t must be apparent to
every rejecting mind, that while Vermont, for the
last ten years, has done much to sustain and to ell
evute her reputation for moral and intellectual power,
her comparative, physical and political strength has
been silently and constantly decreasing. Already
had this decrease, in comparative numbers, lost us
one of our delegates in Congress- and upon the pres
order of things, another apportionment bids fair
be productive of like result.
Some Of the towns in the State have in the last
len years, greatly decreased in population; and in
many instances of increase, it believed the result is
Occasioned by the desire of the enjoyment Of the priv
Ieses of villages resulting in the dissipation
than in the accumulation Of wealth. ...... ....
The deserted dwellings upon many hillside at
test the State has lost and is loosing, much of its
hardy and invaluable industry. The Staying of farm
to hrm,' and turning the whole into wide sheep
walks, would induce the belief that the fear that
shall become pastoral instead of an agricultural PEG
pie, is not without foundation.
The rage of western emigration has been, doubt
less the main cause of the foregoing evils Emigration
has not only taken the talents and hardy industry of
the State to level forests, to build up cities, and to
lay the foundations Of empire, in the west, but every
wave ofts progress has carried with it the accumua
ted avails of whole generations ofabor'
The effects of this emigration apparent
limits cause. 1t is, we respectfully submit, the
Glowing: ..
The knovn resources Of the Stale are equate to
tie support ofiLs notire population
1t should appear, then, that the only way Of avoid
ing this constant drain, and the necessity which is
its cause, is by greatly stimulated and increased pro
ducon.--Any thing short of this will leave con-
stantly sinking lower and lower in the scale of the
States and transform State, in the end, into
vast school, in which citizens are to be educated in
all learning, only in the end to be driven by
styyo carry their powers into the service of those
whose interest are antagonistcal to
In the opinion Of your committee, this stimulated
and increased production will be secured in two ways
byq geological survey first, by the discovery of min
Tadeposits; second, by fn'l and ample develope-
ment Of the laws of agriculture and of the chemical
and agricultural nature of our soils.
l. The discovery of mineral deposits.
1t is believed that no geological fact is better es-
h. Lol a.. AZ
called, are found only at few localities, the mineral
substances which contribute most largely to supply
the absolute essites Of man, are found compare
lively equally distributed over the whole earth To
detect the exact spot Of their location is the pro.
vince Of the scientific geologist This is done by otser
wing the connection between the several substances
The presence of one determines the presence or alb
'ence ofanother.
We should look in vain for coal in the primitive
g~he of Windham County, or for any of the ores
dhs in the alluval deposits Of Windsor County.
Ie same Developments of rocks are observable in
sey many portions Of this State, which have been
found in all parts of the world rich in mineral wealth.
That Vermont shares largely in valuable ores, the
iron mines of Bennington, Salisbury Brandon, Pitts
ford and Plymouth, the manganese of some of these
she'll mari of Albany, Peacham and Vergennes. are
conclusive proofs. Many Of these are largely work
ed yet it is respectfully suggested that many other
places can be pointed out, which may be presumed
quite rich in mineral treasure those from which
industry now draws so large reward for its labor
Inc many varieties of marble and OF sepentne, it is
believed, are imperfectly understood, and more inn
perfectly wrought. The owners of lands on which
Oa'crossngs Of valuable rocks occur, are often un-
aware of their Importance and oftener disheart-
ened BY attempts at quar-, ing, which the want OF
proper knowledge makes unavailirg Very many
Instances of such misdirected effort, it s believed,
"Ay be found; and that more money has been -ex-
rs"oed in following peeled rod, held by the hands
" 'gnorant vicious men, than would complete this
"'ey, we have no doubt. I he cleaning Oh mica
q0artz has, in the eyes of excitement and cup'di-
- looked like silver The heated mind ofgnorance
neaPed P'piles of god curiously chrystazed, at
expense Of time and money. which at the FIRST