The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1858-10-23

lions influencing the soil analysed, in
its place of occurrence, have been cor
rectly observed in the field. And what
is true Of coils, is equally so in its
application TO marls, which are inten-
ded to improve the soil if incorrectly
chosen, they may do the very contrary.
Again: in level country, where
;he underground strata rarely appear
on the surface, while their character is
extremely variable, it is not an easy
matter to ascertain correctly their geo.
logical features, which are Ofthe great.
est importance with reference TO the
digging OF boring of wells. Here also,
great care and minuteness Of obser"a-
| tlon is necessary.
II is therefore obvious, that ia the
case Of Mississippi at least. hasty and
superficial! geological and agricultural
survey can do no good And It j..
equally obvious, that If it is wnrlh while
| to make such a survey at all. il must
be worth while 10 have il done iccH.
That it IS worth while, even the re-.
suits heretofore obtained may be
claimed to have satisfactorily shown =
The green sand and the mari beds of
the northeast and middle portions Of
the State, the extensive deposits OF
Ignite and Of valuable clays, and the
numerous mineral spriI gs which have
been shown 10 exist, will in themselves
compare favorably with results of geo
logical surveys of other States. Under
the natural c, ndiIions obtaining in Mis-.
sissippi, the especial Importance Of the
natural manures just mentioned can
scarcely be nverrated, when we cousid
er what the discovery Of similar depos-
its has done towards the promotion Of
agricultural Interests in some of the At
lantic States. Our beds nf Ignite or
brown coal, cover a larger area perhaps
than any similar deposit heretofore dis.
covered; and although not equal in val
ue to good bituminous coal, the time is
not far distant when these deposits will
prove highly important to many pnr.
tIohs Of the State In numerous local.
ities the coal deposit is so near the sur.
face as to require scarcely any other
than quarrying operations, in order to
obtain a fuel which in some districts Of
Europe is almost exclusively used for
domestic and industrial purposes.
1I-ilsd I7lFls1sxs sxsn where the bed is less accessi,
bio, its en>5Th.ous thickness viii render
the extraction Of the material profita.
bic. There is not, perhaps, a State in
the Union that can vie with Mississippi
in the number and quality of its mine
raj springs; ard the importance to the
people at large, Of having these sources
ot health made generally available by a
thorough examination, is manifest. On
the other hand, there are regions where
the water of ordinary wells is positively
injurious to health. The examination
of these waters, and determination ot
possible remedies for the evil, will moi
be among the least important results oi
the survey. 1t will likewise make
geHcralty LROton the existence and h.
calities of occurrence Of useful rnateri
ais, such as stones for useful or orns.
mental purpOse of clsys, adapted to
almost all the various uses of that i'm
portant material; Of liInestones not in.
feIior to those Of which the imported
lime is made; and it will give reliable
information as to the quality and besl
mode of working these and other useful
materials. Aud among the lesser ad
vantages, it will save thousands ofiEdus,
trions individuals the trouble Of looking
for things which they cannot expect tC
find, while informing them as to whal
they may reasonably look for.
But ii has been suggested more thar
once, that, granting tho intrinsic valu,
and Importance of a geological and ag
ricultural survey, it has been salisfacto
lily shown that tho chief resources / i,
likely TO develop in this State, will b,
If little use to the present generation; -
hat lands are not yet exhausted. anc
any one may move to fresh place ,
if he chooses. That as for the Ignite
there is plenty Of wood to last lifetime
aud more too; aud such being III,
case, that they had rather not go 10 thu
expense Of having survey made ye
awhile.
1t is not likely that policy SO short
sighted. narrow-minded and suic idal
should gain ground iu an enlightened
community, and in the ninieenth centu
ry. As for those who hold and profes
such views, their departure for a +" fresl
place" will scarcely be felt as loss I,
the community they desert, and 10 whicl
hey refuse to make themselves perms
nently useful Having no cnmmo
ground whereOn to meet such ohiector.
| shall c"nfne myself TO meeting tn
, objections of those who, while williu
to do something for the benef. even q
, posteriiy, still imagine that there is n
need of accelerating the survey4-aas
I, would prefer its indefinite proIongatio
To the exertion Of supplying OF ono
5 means sdeqrate to insure its speed
}, completion.
In the FIRST place, it is not a matter :
indifference whether we have to r,
claim an exhausted soil, or simply ,
> maintain fertility by a judicious mar
Hgement of its powers. As betwee
the maintenance and reclamation ,
soils, the latter frequently require
more than three times the abo
and expense, and always involy,
= much loss of time. Some soils onr
> exhausted, become irreclaimable bv an
reasonable amount Of labor.
Let any one travel through the le,
2 fertile districts of our State, and mar
). the tale told by the numerous bom,
4 steads and waste fields, overRrown vii
! blackberries and "brOom sedge." H
A will scarcely escape the conviction IN,
: even with US 1t is not too soon to tai
q measures preventive Of an evil whiC
almost laid waste whole districts
: Virginia, once tho centre of tobac,
culture (which have been and a
d now being reclaimed by the aid
= marls precisely similsr TO those
abundsntly found IN our own state.
,. Had those marls been known earle
q Virginia would never have experienc,
Df the decline Of population and pr.spe
k ity which at one time created such a
n prehensions, and resulted in the lo
i. 10y emigration, Of thousands of enc
, getic and enterprising citizens.
~ might also call attention to the fs
il. that the results Of tho survey will ser
r IS guide to purchp sers of land, sin
& 1t will inform them, not only Of its n
e mentary condition and character, b
81 also OF the prospects Of permanency
ge fertility, and the means of improveme
Dr Had the survey been called into {
n istence earlier, it might have saved sol
u money TO those unfortunate speculate
~ who, sllured by the prairie-like leveln,
c. Of the Tippah. PontOtoc aud Chicl
ne saw "fatwOodS," invested their capi