Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-04-16


night, picking up notes from the 'c'se, but
gathering nothing themselves = Well,
this is really hard fare for these poor fel'
lows, who worked hard for nothing, and
now have to take such kicks and cuffs into
the bargain. Any one, with even small
knowledge of geology and who may
have CHANGED, as | did, to encounter these
explorers while in their field Of labor,
could vouch for the absurd falsity of such
charges. The truth is, their whole com
pcnsation did not pay their Indispensable
travelling and horse hire, while on
duty; ami the endurance Of all manner OF
hardships and privations, and the arduous
labors deyolyine upon them certainly made
their berth an uncnyiablc one. Yet legis-
lators can now be found to gravely assert
that these explorers were not in their dis
tricts, but gathered their information second
handed from hem. If these enlightened
statesmen, haI gone into the hills and
mountains where the leading indices Of &C.
olorical formations are to be found, 1t Is
quite likely they would have found the
objects Of their present reproaches, laborl-
ously engaged in their official duties-but
not stroll ING along the highways, or ramb-
ling through the fields like idle sportsmen.
If these obicctors expected an organized
party, splcndidly equipped, and leading
the comparatively easy life of railroad en-
ginccrs, they were greatly mistaken. And
it is likely they would hardly have shell
tered roughly dressed man, with hammer
in hand and knapsack on his shoulder as
one of the State Geological Corps and
because they recognized none such, then
forsooth, they were not in their districts.
There j. good deal of human nature per-
haps in these querulous complainings, yet
| am disposed to think, for my part, that
they don't come with very good grace
from members of assembly who are not
much unlike 500 mons lilies, and who
fare sumptuously every day, with an oc-
casional Glasgow" and Baltimore"
dinner into the bargain. Would it not be
the more iudicious course to examine the
fruits of this enterprise-the geological and
Typographical maps and sections on which
members will find their own localities
accurately delincated-and the specimens
Of every ore deposit, and every coal vein
in the state-and Of every formation un-
der their own farms. Thought might be
doubtful whether many of them would
recognize them or be able to tell their COM
position.
r If they expected an organized party.
enjoying the comparatively easy life and
labors of railroad Engineers, they were
greatly mistaken. 1t pretty certain they
would hardly have sheltered roughly
r dressed man, with hammer in hand, and
inapsack on his shoulder, dusty and toll
worn, as one of the State Geological Corps;
and because they recognized none such
then forsooth they had not been in then
districts. Again, if these geologist7 ould
not pronounce particular ore-beds the best
thcy had ever seen, then they knew moth
, ing about their business. Because gold
and silver could not be found, they were
not doing their duty. If iron pyrites was
not gold, and micaceous oxyde of iron not
silver, then they did not understand min
eralocy. Or because coal was declared to
be of vegetable origin, and limestone a
marine deposit, then they were set of
fanatics and fools ; and SO on, to the end
of the chapter.
BIT a brighter day is dawning, l have
no doubt, on the Old keystone, when pre-
judice will give way to facts, and the
teachings of Science be received and acted
upon, by the mass of the people, with in-
telligent confidence. When the truths of
natural science Will be as widely known
and appreciated as the common affairs of
life are nowadays. When the principles
of geology, chemistry, and their kindred
branches of learning, will be understand
ingly taught in our common schools. And
when the popular mind thus becomes
familiar with the " "abstruse mysteries" of
of science, and find how plain and simple
are the laws of nature, the operations of
fraud and swindling speculation will be
cut short fortunes will not be spent in
bootless enterprises and digging for coal
and precious metals in impossible localities,
Will be thing unheard of, among sensible
people.
/ have no personal interest whatever in
this bill, yet hope for the sake of the
public interests it will be suffered to pass
Perhaps your readers would like TO
have some news of local interest instead o.
my cancellations; but as 1 have not
kept my eye very closely on local matters,
l don't know as | shall be able to commu-