Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-02-22
Geological survey of ObiO---senRtOr Cam
neid,s Bill.

= les q ks, Receiving BOOKS Ac-- &c .Irf
GeOIo4icaI sulvey of Ohio---senatOr Cam
neid's Bill.
We find in the State Journal an abstract of
the bill introduced by Senator CANFIELD, OF
Medina, providing for Geological Survey of
Ohio.
Its provisions appear to be very full and lib-
eral, so far as we can judge, but the form of the
law is not matter of so much consequence as
the fact of instituting survey.
If one bill does not meet the views of mem
bers, try another for the efficiency and value
Of the work will mainly depend on the amount
of money appropriated to the men who are aP-
pointed to expend it.
single Sc :tion might be drawn that would
cover the whole ground. For instance:
"Be it enacted, &c that - thousand dol
lars are hereby appropriated for a survey of the
State of Ohio in reference to minerals, agricul-
ture, ard natural history, to be executed under
the supervision of tile Governor by one princi
pal geoIogist and such assistants as he may en-
plo5 the said money to be paid on the joint
warrant of the Governor and said principal ge-
ologist."
The mode of appointing the principal geolo-
gist is generally bone of contention, but in
most cases it is done by the Governor. In the
case of the imitation of the New York survey,
Mr. Marcy was Governor and had the appoint
ments As usual, he was approached by pOliti-
cisns. His reply was worthy of statesman :"
care not in this case who the men are or where
they live; want the best men,"
The advantages of such surveys have been
80 often before the public that We hardly feel
bound to 90 over them. Almost all the States
about us are engaged in such surveys, namely ::
Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Tennes-
see, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Mis-
souri, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York,
South Carolina, Georgia, Delaware, Connecti-
cut New Jersey, Massachusetts,, Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont and Canada have had
theirs. Ohio and Indiana commenced exPlOra-
tions in 1867, both of which were suddenly
dropped in 1888. Can the Legislatures OF all
these States be mistaken as to the economical
value of such work Is it of no consequence
to the iron interest to know how many beds Of
ore there are in the State, and have complete
analysis of them!
Is it not better to have competent men once
for all define the extent of the coal region and
determine the number of workable beds in it,
OF is il better to follow mineral hunters and
second sight explorers in regions outside the
eosi bearing rocks The money already ex-
pended in fruitless research for minerals that
could not exist in such geological relations,
would more than meet the expenses of sur
vey What was done under the survey Of
1878, though never fully reported, laid the
foundation for general knowledge of our min
erals that has been felt ever since,
Private explorations have done much, bot
they are seldom published, and they lack sys-
TEN.
The Western and Northwestern Counties,
though mere properly agricultural districts, still
bearing Counties. II they had not, Il 'w'oSdifid
be singular policy to withhold their support
from measure confessedly benefting half the
State Agriculture has been as much advanced
by modern science as any branch of industry.
The applications are SO numerous and so bene-
fetal that they do not need repetition. Minerals
not yet discovered, particularly iron and lead,
may yet be found to exist there, as we are cred
ibly informed. If they are not to be found,
the sooner this fact is settled the better will it
p be for all concerned.
The interest of the former is what the Gene
raj Government has grossly neglected, and it
becomes the States TO help it, as they are gem
orally inclined to do.
Ohio is now taking the lead in iron working.
With her raw bituminous coal, she lie capable
Of turning out iron for western consumption
cheaper than it can be brought here. Should
NOT this interest be encouraged! The whole
thing seems to US SO palpable, that nothing but
apoverty of the Treasury approaching to bank
ruptcy wOnld justify the pOstpOnement OF this
work.