The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-12-28
New Geological Survey.

The Dubuque Times is out in a long and
we'll written article in favor of the resumption
and proper completion of the Geological Sur
vey of Iowa 1t shows how partially and in
efficiently the work was done in the Report
already published; that only one half the
counties in the State were noticed at all. and
these for the most part only briefly aud with
out due consideration of their mineral and
agricultural resources. The conclusion of
the Times article is as follows:
Still, with all the omissions and imperfec
tons of that report. some portions OF 1t did
confer on certain sections in the eastern
counties great benefit, and, probably, on
that account, the State, as a whole. received
more advantage than the Survey and Report
cost What might be expected then from
survey of the rest of the Eastern counties and
q thorough examination of the Western half
of the State2 The Legislature appropriated
$4,000 Tor that partial Survey, and it can
scarcely be expected that the representatives
of the people will object to the use of as
great sum for complete survey.
1t is for the interest of the whole State to
know what are the real mineral resources of
Iowa, and to have them developed. 1t is
important to know how extensive the coal
can be obtained at the least expense: and it
is especially important to know how far the
workable coal extends northward and how far
westward, and, also, whether 1t may be ex-
pected to be found at reasonable depth for
working in the counties on the Missouri
Slope
Ii is perhaps of less importance that the
limits of the lead region for probably sue
cessful minngl in Jackson, Dubuque, Clayton
H. ha ata
mined, yet this is an interest that deserves
its proper share of attention Its important
also to know the extent and value of the
gypsum, ochre and other minerals on the Des
Moines river above and below Fort Dodge,
and quite as important as any OF these, and
more essential in promoting the agricultural
interests of the State at large, is chemical
ANALYSIS of the various soils with view to
determining what products may be most sue
cessfully cultivated in the respective districts
and counties One result of q Geological
Survey. properly conducted and the publ
ton Of well prepared reports in popular yle
and form, would be an increase in the value
of all the land, especially that of the thinly
populated counties.
There is another State interest of great i'm
portance that would be largely benefited by
such survey-that ofthe Iowa Agricultural
College. AT present the State still owns
nearly 200, 600 acres OF college lands, large
part of it in those districts of which little is
known. The survey would make known the
value of the natural resources, enhance the
value of the lands, and hence by their sale a
higher price than otherwise, much increase
the funds for the endowment and support o
the College.
Besides, the State has, and viii have, man,
hundred thousand acres of railroad lands IL
the same region with she college lands aut
among the several millions Of Government
lands still remaining unsold; and the railroad
land would accordingly be increased in valu,
as would also the value of all the unsold land
of all the land grant roads While the Gene
raj Assembly would not legislate direct,
with view TO aid the railroads, yet, ifa Geo
logical Survey and the reports benefit tn
State largely and incidentally enable tn
Railroad Companies to sell their lands NOR
readily and rapidly at the minimum price 10
such lands it will indirectly bring more capi
tai into the State to build railroads, and at tn
same time help to settle up the country ives
of the Des Moines river-certainly a yer
desirable consideration.
There are other reasons why the Geologics
Survey should be renewed at an early day an
why the General Assembly should appropr
ate a few thousand dollars for its commence
ment as soon as practicable.
We will consider, however, but one othe
point on this subject 1t Is that the Survs
should be placed in the hands of some comp(
tsnt man who win bs likely to receive con