Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-10-05
TIE HERALD.
THURSDAY MORNING.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF VERMONT.

]
/ pie taken from The 'Yoies OF Freedom
We were aware that degree Of ignorance not
crediue 10 DOR community. existed in regard olhs
subjec, and that men still lived among who cling
with all ,ensciiy TO the belief of the infabdhy Of
their opinions; VINO closing their ewes against
the light Of knowledge are ever raising their voices
sgaost the advancement Of oil science that in any
way conflicts with their own pfeconceived notions.
But that an article exhibiting such gross ignorance,
such illiberslity q feeling, and displaying so fully
the spir, Of Vandalism, should have sprung from
the intelligence Of Vermont. seems TO US almost in
credible. !, is true, tina, we have occasionally seen
men occupying high places in our society, holding
impotan, officeAsnd even placed IN high Judicial
'tai'Ons. whose al pearance plainly enough indicated
tina, their bark ID 's~uns too far from shore and
whose quahhcssuas for their positions would no,
have been iAsg--fd BY the attentive study of few
dry bools.'--yet we were not prepared 10 see the
study of dry books raised obtscto 10 the ca
pacny, or the honesty of opinion. of any man The
writer of this article will please understand howev-
or, that We do not make this personal matter, as
from force Of circumstances are no, liable TO the
'soh impeachment We, like him, have ever felt
an awful aversion to dry books and have never
made Them our weakHess-ye, are we unlike him,
inasmuch as We do feel somewhat to venera,e those
who have.
As our notice was particularly called TO this ar,-
clio by the gentleman, suppose that he expects
iron US some comments upon it, But we are sorry
to say that the ,eness Of spirit, and the illibsra
" OF feeling which characierizss this communica-
hon. and Tho absence OF all patriotic feeling, which
the wrl'er so fully displays, renders it unnecessary
that any should be made. However, as One Of the
People says that he has seen 'one reason as
signed why this survey should be made we will
venture to give one in view OF this communication
We should hope that one Of the results of Geolog-
ical surrey would be to disseminate more general
knowledge Of the rudments of this science and that
the mind even of One of the People;' would be so
far Developed as to forbid his again exhibiting his
ignorance and limleness in so ridiculous a man.
ner.
The announcement of the TACT that the discovery
OF an extensive and valuable article of use and ex-
port Only benefits the man upon whose land il is
found, we think will strike most people as decided
| ly profound. We should like TO hear him thus dis
course in the vicinity Of the salt works OF Syracuse
or Kenhawa, the Lead mines Of Missouri and Wis.
consin or among the Iron and Coal mines Of Penn
syvania. In our brief enumeration Of minerals &c
in fermsnt. last week, we omitted to mention that
kaolin, or Porcelain clay, from which tie finest
pottery made, has already been discovered in sew
eral localities in the State and in immense qnanti
ties Ii has recently been pretty extensively en-
ployed in the manufacture OF fire bricks which
are now sold at high price and made under a pa
tent Are the individuals of England upon whose
soil this material is taken and worked so extensive
y, the only ones benefited by its discovery there
Let our invoices OF Porcelain ware answer. Fur
.her examina atoms will doubtless develope other To-
calities in Vermont, of this valuable article which
must eventually become oLe of great importance to
our people.
Another reason why we would wish TO see this
survey OF Vermont made, is that agriculture is of
the first importance to this community, any Thing
which increases the products of agricultural labor
mus, be Of value to the people. That general diff
fusion of the rudmen,s Of Geological science will
do this, zee have not the slightest doub,-notwi,h-
standing One of the People so wisely asserts, that
this knowledge all consists in 'miring clay ,pith
sand But for this gentleman's aversion to dry
books we should wish him TO look a, the rapid ad
vancement OF Agriculture in England and Scotland
since the science Of Geology and Chemistry have
been generally diffused and farming has in a degree
been governed bv their immu,able truths. We
would point him to the barren wastes and worn Out
lands OF New Jersey and Maryland which are now
being reclaimed by the application Of the cacareous
and green sand marls that have been there discov-
cred, aud which are literally causing the deser,
wastes Of those States to blossom like the rose
In this State these mars have been found in few
localities and there is reason to doubt tina, thor.
ough examination would develope numerous and
neAhsusiibs deposits Of it. Fespar, it is asserted
in dry books with appareh, ,ra,h contains from I2
TO II per cent efpotash and that by exposure 10
air and moisture j, readily decomposes, becomes
soluble and is fitted for the nuirment Of plants and
vegetables. This substance is abundant, in the
State and the advantages to be derived from its use
only requires TO be pointed out 10 agricul.ur-
lists.
| To the charge, that men, ia The opinion OF 'One
Of the People degraded by the study of books would
have 10 be employed in the prosecution OF this work
we admit From the fac, lha, mineral deposi,e.
are almos, invariably associated with certain geo.
logical formations, little study is advisable in OBJ
tanning knowledge Of rocks and their order OF su-
ierposi,ion, which knowledge affords great assist
snce in searching for useful minerals, and prev EMS
the waste Of avssi amount OF time and money which