Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-01-09

with geology and analytical chemistry. The requisi-
tons oil the Department render il necessary, Also that
the applicant for this office should possess Laboratory
apparatus and Instruments many of them imported all
costly Upon the fitting up OF my brothers laboratory
including his apparatus ard necessary instruments, he
has spent upwards OF five thousand dollars.
If there be- in the first Congressional District of In
diana, besides my brother, single individual who has
qualified himself practical geologst and who pos
sesses the laboratory and apparatus necessary the
profession, never knew or heard of him. Certain il
is, that one in the District in the State except
DIR. Owen, made any application whatever, through me
or otherwise Tor the Office question To bring against
me, under these circumstances, the charge that had
unduy favored relative the exclusion of appiica
tons by other constituents, is only
absurdIty, the face of it. There no one to ex-
clude. There was not another constituent applying.
There was not one, far my acquaintance
tends, who had studied the profession possessed the
implements 1t requires
IPresented my brothers application / would not have
refused that simple Of Justice the humbest constit-
uent In my district. In presenting it, said but very
lew words regarding his qualifications. shall give no
opinion OF my own touching these, on this occasion
Some facts and opinions from disnt crested sources
may suffice to justify the Department in the choice they
made
DR.. Owen twice appointed, by Wing Governors
Geologis of this State. The appointment was offered
to him third time, by Gov. Wallace, in 1899; but be-
ing otherwise engaged he could not accept 1t and Gov
Wallace, in his annual message of December 1885, in
formed the Legislature that he had rendered the ap-
pontment to DR.. Owen, who had declined il and that
person. ne had made appointment whatever. Our
State is not overburdened, would SEEM with geolo-
gists.
In July, 1899, Dr. Owen received frem the General
Government without any application whatever, either
from himself by me, the appointment of u s. Geolo-
gis TO survey and set aside mineral lands in Iowa and
portions of Wisconsin and Illinois. The appointment
lasted about five months; in which time he completed
the required exploration, and reported the Depart
ment Since then, uni; May last, he has not been en-
ployed.
To the value of this survey and the character Of
my brothers report the following documents may tes
tiiy
The Commissioner Of the General Land Office, in
sending in the report to Congress, said:
"The report of DIR. Owen, and the documents which
accompany it, contain highly valuable information, as
sought for by the resouton and, considering the very
short time allowed him for completing the examinations
in the field before the setting in of winter, he has
ceeded the sangune expectations of the Depart
men, m the prompt and satisfactory in which
lie has discharged the important duties that conf
ded to him Page s.
The Society of American Biologists" at their an
nnal meeting in May, 1874 adopted memorial to Con-
gress, praying, that my brothers report might be
printed, document valuable both in practical and
a scientific point of view. Ny brother not present
at that meeting; did he, did make any appli-
cation whatever, in regard the matter The Society
be supposed to contain the best talent on the sub
jet, in the United States.
Congress, acting upon this memorial, printed seven
thousand copies OF the report.
As to the accuracy of the mineral reservations then
marked out By Dr. Owen and their commercial value
time and the result have borne witness. A writer
the National lneliigenecr March, lS45,) describing
the mineral region in question, after stating, that
there IS apparently end to the number # and
rich diggngs that being opened of which
unparalleled for extent and richness in the world,
adds
cit is remarkable fact that almost all cese recent
and immensely valuable discoveries have been made mp
the reservations made bv Dr. Owen under the drec
aSTrv narf
ment he ought have sad) sand the right to dig upon
them selling at from hundred thousand dol
/ lars per acre.
He who will pass 10y testimonials capacity like these
and persist in ascrbing Dr. Owens appointment sin
lSer influence and the of lavoritsn, unworthy
alike oil notice and OF reply
ID. The appointment of brothcrn-law to a situation
on the Coast survey that oil astronomical observer,
situation requiring a knowledge OF astronomy and the
highest branches OF mathematics The object is, cor
rect by succession of celestial observations the trgo
nometrical measurements of the survey.
Dr. Bace, the Superintendent of the Coast Survey "a
direct descendant by the way, of Benjamin Fankin)
known the scientific world OF America as one
its distinguished To imagine that he would
enrust delicate duty to incompetent unaith
ul in its performance, t. suppose him. only lack
ing in principle but Indifferent 20 the character of
work with which the professional reputation of his m
\ is identified.
Mr.. Fauntleroy's professional character is pretty
well known (et Others say how avoraby) throughout
this State He applied years since for situation
on the Coast Survey In forwarding the application
which he sent me, to DR.. Bache added but what knew
OF him. Commencing life merchant, unconqner-
able impulse towards mathematical research drew him
from the the study. Some years service il
the field added practice to theory and confirmed his
" predilic ions. When employment engineer fail
ed the chief amusement OF his leisure hours the
construction of mathematical and Astronomical nstru
ments; among them telescope of strong power. An
article from his pen ''the condition OF equilibrium
between living and dead forces" published in s'Sil
/ AFT he DIR he's aft
ton; at oil events, some year or two after Mr.. Fs ap
pcatlon, DR.. Baehe, meeting caGsualy in the street
informed me that ii his intention TO present Mr.. f ;
name for the first suitable vacancy He added that he die
this the willingly, the Secretary of the Treasu
y had expressed his DESIRE that the Offices of the
vey should, when competent talent presented ITSELF be
distributed fairly might be- the different
tons of the Union and hid yet from the State
of Indiana
need hardly add, that no constituent of mine except
Mr. Fauntleroy, applied for situation this sur
vey.
This is the second case Let partisan ingenuity de-
clare how even shadow of blame NAV attach to me il
regard to 1t Was to decline presenting the appca
ton of constituent; the only application for similar
Office, from the district; application from one be-
lieyed fully quai6cd7 Was to refuse to state what
knew to be true-what has since proved itself to be
rue-regardng the qualifications OF that constituent
or when after his application had lain year two
the files of the Department the news Unexpectedly
reached me, that 1t likely succeed, to re-
mons trate against it Such remonstrance could have
had but enc motive; sordld and selfish the lear
that some demagogue, hard run for ready made OBJ
lection to Gag at me from the stump, might manuae
ture one out of a simple act of justice gentleman
who well deserves more than ! have done for him.
g. The third in the indictment remains; the APP
pointment of Captain Owen and it differs in character
from the other two.
There doubtless many in this District, capable 81
filing with credit to themselves and the service such
office. OF these many however, but three applied to
me for captaincy in the regular service OF these
three one first appointed; gentleman from War
rick county; bringing very strong recommendations
The remaining two were, my brother and Mr.. Chandler
&C