The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-12


present about twenty-five gentlemen, among whom
Fetez Cooper Ex-Governor Hsratio Seymour and other
distinguished gentlemen.
The President of the society being absent, the Vice.
President, Mr.. Barnard called to the chair.
After the usual preliminary business the following
port upon the topog Apply Of the State Of New York
read
70 report on the expectancy of the Legsa
ture OF the State Of New York upon the proprety OF
having opog phicai survey made Of that State beg
leave to submit The following
REPORT:
The subject OF the resolution seemed at rst glance to
have tendency TO compromise the very general cha
Iacter OF the society," by apparently limiting the sphere
OF its influence to particular State; whereas Its pro-
vince not only national but embraces by its nsme the
Western hemisphere. Nevertheless the very great ne
cesity for correct physical map Of tue United States
no less obvious to every intelligent citizen than to your
mmitee which map 1t is not probsble the general gov
eminent will supply rendering incumbent upon the in
dyidusl States to survey their respective Territories
suggested to the ee that upon each State
mas ne influence OF the society might with propriey be
1t Is not unknown to the society that within the past
century the principal governments Of Europe have
foot and some Ct hem have completed elaborate SURVEYS
which reflect high honor upon the governments them
selves and upon those who executed lhem.
The ordnance survey of England and Typographical
maps OF France and Austria, tributes and
works OF art marks of enlightened progress which
must forever illustrate distinct period in the history
is such as, from its scope and expense; req hires
he patronage OF government, but governments are
the Efforts of science In this respec. it would not Be
just to compare our own government with the older
tons OF Europe We have, during the past century,
been employed in redeeming continent from the vii.
dsrness. LAbor has been the word and labor the
necessity While our heads have yesrned for knowledge
Cur hands have been hardened to toll.
Under such circumstances not to look for that
degree of progress in science which expect to find
among an olcer people Sill, point with Just
price to the results far Of geodstfc survey of our
coast Based upon the pures principles of science it
has been conducted with fidelity and industry and The
photographic results which 1t has furnished
timAbe value, not only to this country but to the
merce of the world In prosecuting its abors 1t has
AIDE, every State into which its operations extended
the If Typographical ma o. and has left
basis for its continuation the whole state. The
yalue OF this basis Obvious to the State of New
jersey that that State In the year 1854 by legislative
appropriation organized survey which has since been
prosecuted with vgor, and which, when completed will
give 10 the Stale accurate Typographical map no
in erior to The typographical map Of France
This map will give the people OF that State perfect
ida u s resources while, as consequence, it
To oeyeoe those resources and 10 increase The value OF
land by showing its character thus returning by It's re-
suits the cost oil lts execution.
The very marked geological Developments which oc-
in this county, and the vast mineral deposits
which have been deL led to scarcely auy State of the
unicn, have led in Of the States TO scen ac
mnstions more or less thorough under the patronage
Of the State COVE .nmeuts. Willis t. ese examna lions
sne explorations have, in many nstances exhibited
uaorona,y ieu s, they have failed in great measure
TO make thtse results OF practical value tor the of
coiIecl top graphical maps upon which to deneate the
geological form aions and mineral deposits. This APP
plies with or to the recent geological survey OF
the State oi New York. This examination, authorized
by the Legislature, commenced in 1885, its results
have not yet all been published The cost Of the whole
Investigation inGo the natural history of the state in
cudiig printing, engraving, publishing, &c, has been
estimated at SEQ 600; yet great part of tits
the is in existence Typographical map upon
which could be deneaed the results of invesga
items The most prominent features in ali the maps
the State he county divisions, which, although very
well in political point of view, yet other
purpose What the people want Is amap which will
show the relative value Of the land in different parts
the State the cultivated and the uncultivsted the
wooded and the cleared the length and directions Of the
streams and the extent valleys which they drain
the height end character OF the hills mountains the
geo gca folMa. to which they belong, and the mi
neral deposits which they contain. In snort, such
the whole state ~ he does Of his Immediate neigh
bon hood.
Such map, while 1t would render available the in.
ves,gatcns already made, would increase the value of
those il vestigatcns in their correct delineation.
In view, therefore, Of the great value and Importance
of such survey to the State of New York, which, from
its geographical position and commercial facilities its
extent and wealth, has naturally become the leadiog
State If the UDon has always responded with quick
intelligence and praisew worthy berssy to the appeals
of scerce and where the interest of its people
cerned has hesated to take the iniatve and in
view also OF inducing by her example the other States
OF the Union to follow the lead Of New jersey your
mittee would recommend that a memorial be prepared
through committee to the Legislature the State OF
New York asking that an appropriation may be made for
commencing geodec and typographical survey of the
State EGBERT L. VlELE,
+. a. CoNkIlNG. ~
The report, upon motion was then accepted.
motion was then made, that the committee be in
structed to prepare memorial conformity with the
Recommendation Of the report This motion carried
unanimously.
Ex Governor SEYMOUR then introduced, who spoke
upen the importance Of Typographical survey of the
ofn 40 nh; la he nr ~ ~
memoriaized to petition the Legislature upon tho
Importance of Typographical survey of the State Then
the people would be acquainted with the wealth of the
Stateof it's mineral wealth and hidden rivers in its
forests that might be called in the morning to their toll
and glide in the evening to their rest The state Of
New York had great amount of coast not only the
south with its Long Island shore but Oh the north with
the most favored in the confederacy. New
York alone has the only perfect geological record
OF the topography Of the world. All the rocks of
New York accessible All along our northern
sh every rock is accessible and all open exsmna-
on and At this the biologists Of other parts Of
the world have to refer to the History Of New
York to deter mine the geog Of both worlds Passing
up the Hudson river to the Highlands here,
among the Of these rocks have the tide flow
ing one hundred feet deep for miles and miles beyond
Had Of these huge rocks been thrown across the
made in the history Of our state and country We pass
on up he valley Of Lake George and reach the St. Law
renee: having traversed valley that separates New
York from the Eastern States The history these valleys
is very interesting Their waters tnged with blood
shed in defence of liberties If go back to the
hest history of country these valleys have always
commanded powerful Influence over the country. The
lrquos Indians first pos essed the valley Of the Hudson
and the valley of the Mohawk and swayed the State.
Starting from the mouth Of the Hudson the light
Of the savage could go the valley of the Hudson then
through the Mohawk valley to the lakes through the
lakes TO the Mi souri, and up this great river to It's
very head The land either side OF the Mohawk val
ley into the Hudson Of the largest rivers of the
State. The waters Of the State empty into the
through the Hudson, the Delaware, and find
their into the Ohio aud flow by Cincinnati into
Mississippi and down this great father waters into the
Gulf of Mexico These facts exert remarkable nau-
continent. They did in the early days,
when She country possessed by confederacy Of In
dams, and they do now in civilization. The Indians
living ~ the head Of these great valleys taught
by nature to their warriors In legions upon their
enemies before the power Of resistance could be sup
piled. Capt. Smith found the New York warriors even
As lar south as Virginia. and they were the most power
full tribe the continent. After the discovery and set
ement of this continent by Europe then the Of
France and England transferred here and trace
the war path along these valleys. The path in
these valleys in the French and Indian war; and also in
the Revolutionary struggle Most of the great martial