Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-05-10
For the Standard.

of your paper a suggestion which appeared to me
to be of the most important made in our State
for many years We do all very much need an ac,
curate map. of North Carolina, and your proposal
that our next Legislature provide the means to OBJ
tain it should meet the hearty approval of us all.
1t is to be hoped that now there few in the State
opposed to judicious system of internal improve
ments. But how can a system be judicious unless
the country to be improved be well known? DIFF
fcrent parts Of the State may desire connection
which ought not to be allowed, because it will cost
more than it comes to. Other parts again seem to
have been formed for great reciprocation of bene
fits But they stand separate because the facilities
for joining them arc unnoticed. Now, large map
which will accurately exhibit the form of our sea
coast-the lengths and directions of our rivers-the
Intervening of their head waters and so the
tinuity of their water sheds well of their vaes
the relative positions of our towns and villages
and the windings of the roads that connect them
Such map, widely distributed among people,
would be to them of incalculabe eminently
suggestive to oil who may look it, and itself de-
csve of many schemes and questions that may arise
Let us look at some of the for prosecuting
this coed work, especially at this time.
1. We have example of others around us, whose po-
ston because of their enterprise in what is itself
sonable is to say the least envable When travelling
through the States most remarkable for life and
tivty we meet at every hotel large accurate and mi
mute maps, not only of the whole State but even of
counties and townships To study suhject-snch
the geography of country-in detail, is one
thing To obtain birds eye view of it whole
is different thing. Not only the parts should be
known but their relation to another should be ac
knowlcdged also. One of the most delightful books
in language is Mrs. Somerville's Physical Gcog
raphy which is remarkable for its sketches of the
globe as whole. This truth has been acknowledge
cd by others, and they daily reaping rich harry
esS of domestic and social benefits from it. Some
of them are now engaged in repeating the work. be-
instruments are now so much better than they
many years ago. and because of their largely
increased stock of experience
g. Many of the necessary observations have been
a1roo6 u a1p fpru nj them will ha
ved but others may be lost and should be secured
while they exist. Our coast, up to the head of
tide wat cl has already been surveyed by the gener
al Government and excellent maps have been issued
from the office of the Coast Survey. But they
in detail and detached, and need one picture of
their results extending from Virginia to South Caro-
lina This is by immense odds the most difficult
and costly part of the necessary survey. But here
it is done to hands, it will be finished by the
time that the inland surveys ready to join them.
The surveys that from time to time have been made
of views for sackwater navi CATION need not be re-
peated, and will determine their general courses as
well particular bends with entirely sufficient
curacy. Long lines of survey for railroads also
list in various parts of the State, and will ad
miraby well for basis on which other surveys may
res, for means of correcting and harmoniZing the
other independent surveys that may be necessary.
There also yet in existence many surveys Of the
common roads Of the State, which will be also very
useful in diminishing the expense of the undertak
ing. But these observations have not been publish
ed and ought to be secured they are lost. Some
of our cntcrpriZing county surveyors, have made
maps of their own counties-rude they may be- still
they Will be of very great service in the larger and
highly scientific work now proposed. Doubtless they
present with much accuracy the interlacing of the
creeks and minor streams, points of much import
ancc in determining the proper position of common
as wel as opiank roads These the veins through
which the supplies afforded by the artcries-rivers,
railroads and cana|scan be most cffecually distri
buted to all parts Of the body social.
3. North Carolina has the merit of having order
ed Geologic survey of her territory before any
other State in the Union. This work begun
many years ago and is still continued. But its re-
suits will be comparatively barren unless they are
preserved and distributed. The LATER and more mi
mute observations of DIR. Emmons show that the
lier labours Of Drs. Olmscd and Mitchell were very
accurate and valuable. But these are contained in
very rare pamphlets, only known through the
public spirit of private enterprise. We greatly
eratlficd by the manner in which the profoundly
learned Agassiz received textbook prepared for
OFF University Because it contained the only Ge-
oil 7gical sketch of North Carolina he had ever seem
When the soul is enlarged by liberal culture it
learns to prize Alright the best of any thing valuable
even if later labours should render it meagre and
mainly because it will of itself pro-
duce its own oblivion, in degree necessary to
procure advance and improvement in its own direc
ton. The map here advocated should contain the
netcs and boundaries Of the principal Geological
formations-facts which becoming of importance
even to the Science of Physicians. If the Geo
logical survey of the State is worth the making
>t'--'y
out rauch money to have such survey made, and
then declined to have it properly published Like
FOOLISH builder she laid strong foundation for large
house and went no further. There the foundation
stands, and stands unused In all probability when
she attempts to finish its superstructure she will find
The stones scattered the design with which they |
we're collected and colocated lost SO that all her
work must be repeated.
4 The interest Of North Carolina imperiously de- !
nands the immediate undertaking and completion of |
his work. But as am already trespassing on your
Iberalty in affording the communication a place in
Iour columns, l can only touch lightly on some of |
he more salient points of this head. North Carolina
S unfortunate in having its extremities bound to-
sether at first only by parallels of latitude. The
lar, the Neuse and the Cape Fear are the only riv-
RS which rise and issue within her bounds The
Central Railroad, if extended far enough will to a
great degree compensate for this disadvantage es-
'ecially if branch roads of various kinds are Judi
lonsly laid down to dfuse its benefits to the North
IN and Southern limits of the State To this neces-
airy work good map will be of inestimable service
Zoology teaches where look for the deposits of
oa and of the various minerals and metals But
ood map is then needed to show the relative posi-
ions of the different mines; which information will
lot only enable those now known to be of mutual
el eft but also guide to discreet and successful
earch for others at present unsupported Is it likely
hat the valuable deposits of copper the line be-
ween Person and Granville would have been pass
d by for so many years had the suggestions of Ge-
logy and the map of DR.. Mitchell been more gener-
lily known? The Engineers employed in the sur
ey should be provided with the proper instruments
nd determine the longitude and latitude Of oyory