Daily clarion and standard. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1866, 1866-07-21
CIRCILAR.
OFFICE OF THE GEOLOGICAL AND AG'
RICULTURAL SURVEY,
OXFORD, Miss, July 1866

After more than five years suspen-
sion of the greater part Of its opera
tons, the geological and agricultural
survey of the State has resumed its ac-
tivitv, under the organization it pos
sessed for eighteen months prior to
the war. For the present year its
field operations will necessarily re
main suspended for wan ofthe requisite
funds. but it is intended they shall be
resumed at the earliest possible mo-
ment. in the spring of the coming year,
Meanwhile, the Office work, especially
the examination Of soils, marls, rocks,
mineral waters, etc, win steadily pro-
gress, not, it is hoped, to be again in
terrupted. In announcing the fact
/ renew the invitation to all
those desiring such examinations,
or able to contribute specimens or
facts to illustrate the resources Of the
state. to communicate with me.
There never was a time when the in
formation intended to be elected and
conveyed to the people through the
iustrumentality Of this work. was so
much needed as at present, when every
thing requires to be reconstructed
As regards our agricultural habits
and practices, it is universally admit
ted that a mere return to the status
gao ante 5e1luna. would be worse than
unwise. it would be ruinous, and in q
great degree practically impossible
We are compelled to make the most
Of what means the war has left us, in
developing the natural resources OF
the country under the new circumstan-
ces and necessities which have arisen
To aiI the people in doing this intelli-
gently and to the best advantage, by
q careful and thorough observation OF
/ facts, and the application to them OF
correct principles, as derived from
/ the observation and experience of the
| present and past ages is the province
and object Of a geological and agricul
raj survey.
/ II is this observation Of facts, need
ful above all which constitutes thu
I heaviest portion Of the work, and tina
/ in which. unless assisted by the PEG
pie. the most skillful observer mus
/ fall short of what no one better thai
/ himself knows is requisite to give t.
! his conclusions that practical value
with a view to which chiefly the worl
was undertaken. 1t is quite impossi
/ bic within the limits Of time and eX
penditure usually allotted, to attain b.
personal examination knowledge o
/ all the minute details with which Ions
residence has made even the most nm
Observation-Disclosures familiar.
Such assistance, in my travel
/ through the State, | have constant,
asked, and as a rule, it has been freel,
given; and deeply regret my inabili
ty atpresent, to refer those who hay
done 50 to my report of results, mad
to the Legislature in 1860, x for proc
that the seed they sowed has not fal
len upon sterile soil.
In the interests of the objects of tn
survey, | most earnestly solicit cor
tributions from all friends of materi,
and intellectual, agricultural and edit
cational progress. Specimens {
rocks, clayS, muris, eortAs and sol
| are especially desirable and importan
and scarcely less so what are usual
considered as mere curiosities- toss
sbells. bones or ieoreS. The latter Al
among the most essential meal
available to the geologist, of asce
tanning the geological structure of
country; without which its agricult
raj and technical resources cannot
estimated. Fossils are the Landmark
in the depths of the earth, the lette
of the geological alphabet; hence Il
practical and scientific importan
which attaches to their study. 1t
= extremely desirable that it should
generally known how valuable are /;
individual contributions of this chs
acter, especially if accompanied
accurate labels, giving the exact loci
= ity, depth. etc, at which the specim
, was obtained The best pTeserv
specimens are commonly found cas-
ally. in digging wells, cisterns, cellar
railroad cuts, etc, and would, if pl
+ served and combinee, form finer e.
|, lection than any which could be gat
cred during a systematic survey.
~ / equally request the commune
y ton of all observations or question
: bearing upon the material resourc
4 ornatural history of the State, wheth
q illustrated by specimens or not.
Questions must be mooted before tn
can be settled; and it is often n
among the least difficult tasks to 5
, up those which most interest the pc
pie ofany particular section of countl
l shall, as heretofore, give prompt
tention to all communications of Il
kind, furnishing in return such info
e, nation as Ipossess, or can derive fro
/, the examination of specimens ser
, and where no satisfactory conclusi
$ can he reached, keeping the matter
y record FOR future investigation.
: The survey is now so far advanc
towards completion, that all the ch
geological and agricultural featu
have been determined, and are rep
! scented in the collection of specimel
d Many interesting and important ,
Is tails still remain to be investigate
ID but there is no longer, for eXamp
ct any doubt as to what minerals may
e may not be looked for in the vario
Is sections, and that, apart from Iron o
:, no metallic ores are to be expected
-d But it is not this kind of mineral wea
l. which assures the most desira
Is species of prosperity. Mines enr
Is individuals rather than the people
IS .,,.,,uo al 4bo Oft,