The hydraulic press. (North San Juan, Nev. Co., Cal.) 1858-18??, 1859-01-15
SOMETHING FOR SCIENCE.

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Some time ago the Red Bluff Beacon
urged the necessity of thorough geo.
logical survey of the State, with view
to the full development Of our mineral
resources, and that data might be OBJ
tanned upon which could be based sci
entific theory concerning the geld de-
posts.
Since then nearly every influential
paper has discussed the subject upon
pretty much the same grounds. 1t is
generally held that a thorough geologi-
cal report, from a competent person,
would place the immense resources of
California in more commanding posi-
ton before the worlds eye, besides re-
sultlng in mere systema tic method of
developing them. These ideas meet our
hearty concurrence, and we hope to see
the present Legislature act upon them.
Some few affect to sheer at the idea that
geological research can possibly assist
the miner, and a contemporary has said
that the miners themselves are the State S
best biologists and mineralogists. Yet
miners are as much given to theorizing
as more scientific people, upon smaller
basis of facts, too and some of their
theories, pertinaciously accepted as es-
tablished truths, have in times past ma.
terially retarded their interests. We
remember the time when the ignorant
new conner was laughed at for prospect
ing on hill tops; yet the mountains are
now our great gold fields. At the pres
ent time a commonly received theory
with the miner is chat the great gravel
deposits are but the beds of former riv-
ers, or the old channels of streams still
in existence.
Yet how inadequate is such theory
to account for the immense deposits of
gravel which lie all along the Pacific
slope of the Sierra Nevada, and extend
for an unknown distance north and south
of the boundary lines of the State! The
terrace-like formation of the mountain
ridges, rising one above the other, the
inclination of their strata, and the occa-
sional discovery Of fossils and well-pre-
served sea shells, sufficiently indicate
the total submersion of the country be
meath the sea at some early period, and
the gradual subsistence of the waters to
their present limits.
Many Of the ridges are nearly level
on their SUBMITS, and miles in width.
Streams large enough to have left such
immense gravel beds could only have
flowed from much greater heights, yet
we find these beds themselves occupying
the gerry summit Of the mountains-no
greater heights beyond them. The ten
dency of rivers, as of smaller currents,
is to find the lowest depths; but the
streams claimed to have existed at an
early day singularly enough ran only
along the tops of elevated ridges.
We would like to see hissubject elab-
orately treated by an able Geologist after
full examination and investigation. The
labors of our gold-seeking population
have developed vast number Of inter
esting facts which science can group to-
gether for our instruction, and which
thus may lead to most important discov-
cries. Even if the proposed Geological
exploration should result in no practical
benefit to the miners, the State owes
something to science and can abundantly
afford to pay the debt. The peculiar
position she occupies as the greatest
gold-producer, stimulates the curiosity
of the world, and makes it almost our
imperative duty to explore the secrets Of
land so prolific in wonders.
BANK BLASTING ELsEwHERE-
Wherever the experiment of obtaining
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