Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-02-17
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
REPORT OF THE SELECT COM
MITTEE, MADE TO THE HOUSE,
AT THE LAST SESSION.

| Your committee to whom was so much
ofthe Governors message as related to a
geological survey, present the following
REPoRT.
Your committee, in the examination of
that portion of the Governors message
which was referred to them, have had it
for their object TO investigate the arguments
BY which the truth of his Excelency's as
sumption, "that geological survey has a
connection with the internal prosperity of
the State" is demonstrated
The investigation, into which the Fcom-
mittee has been enabled to enter, has, as will
be perceived, convinced them that this con-
necton is not only an intimate, but neces-
sary one. II must be apparent TO every re-
Aecting mind, that while Vermont, for the
last ten years, has done much to sustain and
to elevate her reputation for moral and intel
lectual power her comparative, physical and
political strength has been silently and CON
stantly decreasing. Already had this de-
crease, in comparative numbers, lost us one
of our delegation in Congress, and upon
the present order Of fittings, another appor-
tionment bids fair TO be productive of like
result.
Some of the towns in the State have, in
the last ten years, greatly decreased in pop
lation; and in many instances of increase, it
it is believed the result is ocasioned by the
desire for the enjoyment of the privileges
Of villages, resulting more in the dissipation
than in the accumulation of wealth.
The deserted dwellings upon many a
hillside attest, that the State has lost, and
is losing, much of its hardy and invaluable
industry. The 'laying of farm to farm"
and turning the whole into wide sheep
walks, would induce the belief, that the
fear that we shall become pastoral instead
of an agricultural people, is not without
foundation.
The rage for western emigration has
been, doubtless, the main cause of the fore
going evils. Emigration has not only ta-
ken the talents and hardy industry OF the
State to level forests, to build up cities
aud to lay the foundations of empire, in the
west, but every wave Of its progress has
carried with it the accumulated avails of
whole generations of labor
The effects of this emigration are no
more apparent than its cause. 1t is, we
respectfully submit. the lolI.f
rnu nHJeoH erS 0f the iot0fe are IN
adequate to tie support Of its ndtire popu-
idtiOn.
1t should appear, then, that the only way
of avoiding this constant drain, and the
necessity which is its cause, is by greatly
stimulated and increased production
Any thing short of this will leave us con
stanty sinking lower and lower in the scale
of the States, and transform our State, in
the end, into a vast school, in which citi-
zens are to be educated in all learning, only
in the end to be driven by necessity to carry
their powers into the service of those whose
interests are antagonistical to our own.
In the opinion of your committee, this
stimulated and increased production will be
secured in two ways by geological survey
first, by the discovery of mineral deposits
second, by full aud ample Development
of the laws of agriculture and of the chem
ical and agricultural nature of our soils.
|. The discovery of mineral deposits.
1t is believed that no geological fact is
better established, than, that while the pre-
cious metals, so called, are found only al
few localities, the mineral substances which
contribute most largely to supply the ahso'
lutte necessities OF man, are found com
paratively equally distributed over the whole
earth. TO detect the exact spot of their
location is the province of the scientific
geoIogst This is done by observing the
connection between the several substances
The presence of one determines the pres
ence or absence of another.
We should look in vain for coal in the
primitive granite of Windham County, OIL
for any of the ores of iron in the alluval de
posts of Windsor County. The same de
velopements of rocks are observable in very
many portions of this State, which have
been found, in all parts of the world, ricl
in mineral wealth. That Vermont shares
largely in valuable ores, the iron mines o
Bennington, SALISBURY, Brandon, Pittsfort
and Plymouth, the manganese of some o
these places, the copper and copperas o
Strafford, the shell mari of Albany, Peachan
and Vergennes, are conclusive proofs. Nam
of these are largely worked, yet 1t is respect
fully suggested that many other places cal
be pointed out, which may ~be presumed
quite as rich in mineral treasure as thost
, from which industry now draws so large
, reward for its labor. The many varieties
Vi muIpic anu VI sCiPOhtihO, IL 10 oSi'O'Su
are imperfectly understood, and more i'm
perfectly wrought The owners of land
on which outcrossings of valuable rock
occur, are often unaware Of their impor
lance, and are oftener disheartened by at
tempts at quarrying, which the want 0
| proper knowledge makes unavailing. Yer.
I many instances Of such misdirected effort
: il is believed may be found and that NOR,
4 money has been expended in following
: peeled rod, held by the hands of ignoran
S or vicious men, than would complete thi
4 enrunu ,nn have no dnnht Nha nlnnmini