New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-11
PUBLIC MEETINGS.
AMERICAN GEoGRApHIcAL SOCIETY

The regular meeting Of this Society WA held last
evening at the University. The attendance on the
occasion was quite small.
In the absence Of the President, HIRAM BARSET
called to the chair. After the usual prcminare.
the following report upon the subject of topograph
cal survey of the State read and accepted:
The committee appointed by resolution Of the So
ciety 20 report the expedency Of menoralizinp the
Legislature Of the State of NewYOrk upon the pro-
priety of having Typographical survey made of that
State, beg leave to submit the following
REPORT:
The subject Of the resolution seemed at first glance
10 have tendency TO compromise the very general
character OF the Society by apparently limiting the
sphere of its influence TO particular State whereas
its province il not only national but it embraces by
its name the Western hemisphere. Nevertheless the
very great necessity for correct physical map of the
United States, no less obvious to every intelligent
citizen than TO your committee which map il is not
probable the General Government will supply render
ing incumbent upon the individual States to survey
their respective Territories has suggested to the com
mttee that upon each separate state the influence Of
the Society might with pfOprety be brought to bear.
1t is not unknown TO the Society that within the
past century the principal Governments Of Europe
have set on foot, and some of them have completed
elaborate surveys which reflect high honor upon the
Governments Themselves and upon those who executed
them.
The ordinance survey of England and typographical
maps of France and Austria tributes TO science aud
which must forever illustrate distinct period in the
history Of those nations. The nature of geodetc
survey such from it's scope and expense requires
the patronage Of Government; but Governments are
not always the first to appreciate or to encourage the
efforts Of science. In this respect would not be just
TO compare own Government with the older ma
tions of Europe. We have, during the past century
been employed in redeeming continent from the
wilderness. Labor las been the watchword, and la
Dor the necessity While our heads have yearned
for knowledge, our hands have been hardened TO toll
Under such circumstances we are not to look for that
degree Of progress in science which expect to find
among an older people. Still we can point with just
pride TO the results far of geOdetic survey Of our
coast. Based upon the purest principles of science it
has been conducted with fidelity and industry and the
photographic results which has furnished of ines
Unable value not only to this country but to the
of the world. In prosecuting its abors it has
made every State into which its operations extended
the commencement Of Typographical map, and has
left basis for its continuation over the whole State
The value of this basis obvious to the State
of NewJersey, that that State in the year 1854 by
legislative appropriation, organized a survey which
has since been prosecuted with vgor and which, when
completed, will give to the State accurate topo-
graphical map in nOwse inferior to the Typographical
map Of France.
This map will give the people of that State perfect
idea Of It's resources while as consequence, 1t serves
to develop those resources and increase the value of
land by showing its character, thus returning, by its
rel uts, the cost Of its execution.
The very marked geological developments which &C.
in this country and the vast mineral deposits which
have been denied to scarcely any State OF the Union
have led in many of the States to scientific examina-
tons more or less thorough, under the patronage of
the State Governments. While these examinations
and explorations have, in many instances, exhibited
extraordinary results, they have failed in great meas
ure to make these results of practical value, for
the want of current Typographical maps upon which to
delineate the geological formations and mineral depos-
ts. This applies with great force to the recent Geo
logical Survey of the State of New York. This ex-
animation, authorized by the Legislature,
need in 1885, its results have not yet all been pub
lisled The cost of the whole investigation into the
natural history of the State including printing engrav
ing publishing, &c. mas been estimated at 100000;
vet great part of ii is incOmprehensibe to large
class Of people from the fact that there is in existence
no correct typographical map upon which could be de-
lineated the results of the Investigations. The most
prominent features in all the maps of the State the
county divisions, which, although very well IN poltl-
cal point of view, yet answer no other purpose. What
the people want is map which viii show the relative
value Of the land in different parts of the State, the cnl-
tyated and the mcultivated, the wooded and the
cleared the length and directions of the streams and
the extent of the valleys which they DRAIN the hight
and character of the hills and mountains the geological
formations to which they belong and the mineral de-
posts which they contain. In short sucha map rs will
enable every citizen to know much about the whole
State as he does of his own immediate neghbOrhood.
Such a map, while it would render available the in
vestgations already made, would increase the value of
those Investigations in their correct deneaton.
In view, therefore, of the great value and import
anCe OF suCn survey 10 inc otdtc vi NtN-iOlh,
which, from its geographical position and commercial
facilities its extent and wealth, has naturally become
the leading State of the Union has always responded
with quick intelligence and pralseworthy hberality
TO the appeals of SCIENCE and where the interest of S
people was concerned has failed to take the ni
tative; and in view also of inducing, by her example,
the other States Of the Union to follow the lead OF
Ncw-Jersey, your Committee would recommend that
memorial be prepared and signed by the officers of
the Society and presented through q Committee, TO
the Legislature of the State of NewYOrk, asking that
an appropriation may be made for commencing geo
deic and typographical survey OF the state.
Al OF which q respectfully submitted.
{o$ q SG5@ S5 { 1,alA' Committee.
Ex-Governor SEYMOUR was then introduced to the
Society and proceeded to deliver interesting adj
dr., upon the topography and geography of the State
of New-York.
The distinguished speaker, at the outset of his re-
marks, stated that the subject of the Importance of
typographical survey of the State had been frequent
our prosperity honor and influence in this country
and in the world. Our State possessed large extent
of seacoast and lands bordering upon lakes and riv
ew. some forming our boundaries, and others pene-
trang the interior of the State The lecturer traced
the boundaries and showed their importance to us
in our welfare Us people. He next called the atten
ton of the Society to the interior OF the State-to ITS
importance in point of geographical situation This
Importance was fully known by the Iroquois, who
were the pOssessOrs OF soil before the present
owners came into power. They held the plains of the
water part of the State, the vallies of the Mohawk
and Hudson, and by the advantages of their
confederation and their geographical position, could
M anv time hurl greater numbers OF their Warriors
upon other tribes than could be found TO resist them.