The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-07-10
Geological Explorations i'm the Ter
ritgrieS.

rftOries.
WASHINGTON, D. c., July 5.-A report of
the Commissioner of the General Land Of
fec relative to the extension of the geologi-
cal survey to the different localities of the
public domain, made in response to call
from the House Committee on the Public
Lands for information as to the practi-
cal results of the geological survey OF Ne
braska, which was ordered by Congress,
and as to the propricty Of approprlatlng 1or
the extension of like surveys to other por-
tons of the public lands, shows some I'M
portant and interesting facts. The Com
missioner remarks:
ain addition to the general outlines Of
the Nebraska geological exploration, as
presented in the recent annual report, pas
eaees 100 to 1O7, it is suggested that the re-
suits of that exploration have established
thus far not only the wonderful fertility OF
the soil of Nebraska, but its special adapta-
ton in different localities to the production
of the various staples, owing to the diver
sitv of the elements Of each, and showing
the feasibility Of producing in brief Pc
RODS forest and fruit trees on the expansive
plains west of the Missouri, not only at
points where the experiment has already
been tried, but even in the western portion
of the State, where it was the general i'm
preston that the climate and soil
were unfavorable to their growth. The
survey has revealed the existence OF
peat in numerous localities in quantities
sufficient to meet the demand for fuel,
while II more abundant supply is in pro-
cess OF formation. 1t has shown numerous
deposits Of lime and sandstone of a charac-
ter, in many instances, admirably adapt
ed to building purposes; OF materials Tor
making brick and tiles the existence Of
beds of p0tters' clay OF superior quality !;
the general excellence Of well-watcr, and
The facility of obtaining it ut reasonable
depths The results nearly set ut rest the
prevalent idea that vast beds OF coal eX-
listed at moderate distances beneath the sur
face, rs II continuation Of the Iowa coal
fields, and have turned the attention of the
settlers with rcdoubled vigor to the feasible
mode Of obtaining timbcrand fuel by forest
tree culture. All these, with many other
facts connected with the minerology, the
agricultural, horticultural, and grazing ca
pucitics Of the various soils of Nebraska,
the wants of the settlers, and the means OF
meeting them in the rcadiest and most
economical manner, have been fully
elaborated by the gcologist, and will
be embodied in forthcoming report,
with much additional matter, scien-
tihc and practical, designed, in an au-
thoritative form, to furnish reliable Intor'
nation not only to our own countrymen, but
to the ncoplc of other lands who are anX'
iouslv examining every source OF lntelll'
gcnce preparatory to emigrating to thu
favored region. European emigrants vii
learn from this forthcoming report that II
the valleys of Nebraska they can obtain
farms ut normal rates, with soil from five
TO fifty feet deep, containing elements of The
highest fertility, producing in abundance
ali the cereals, fruits, and vegetables tina
forest trees can be reared in the short space
of ten years to size of fifty feet in heigh
and four feet in circumference, and the
bordering bluffs, composed Of sllicious mari
resembling the loess of the Rhine, have
shown an adaptation to vine culture equal
perhaps, to that celebrated valley"
Mr.. Wilson makes the further statement
at is reported that an extensive coal
field exists along the eastern base of thu
Rocky mountains, extending from the north
ern portions of New Mexico to Montana
presenting an area varying from ten thou
sand to twenty thousand square miles, tn.
beds being in some cases from thirty to fifty
feet in thickness, and furnishing coal of ex
ccllent quality from and superior to tn,
brown coal or lignites so abundantly exist
ing among the same range of mountains
Through Colorado, New Mexico, and Mon
tana, and westward to the Pacific, immense
beds of iron ore of fine quality, with mines
Of copper, lead, tin, and zinc, are said t,
exist but no careful examination of these
deposits has been made by men Of science
and comparatively little is known of Their
availability for practical use. A geological
survey of these districts would at once place
the character Of these resources upon theil
basis, give shape to our information CON
corning them, and place it in an au'
thentic form. The same remarks may
apply in reference to the precious me-
tails. The numerous deposits in Mon
tana, Dakota, Colorado, New Mexico, Ari-
IONA, Idaho, Utah, and certain regions on
the Pacific, are imperfectly known, even to
the few explorers who have prospected this
extensive country. Its extraordinary
wealth can become freely understood only
through scientific exploration, ordered by
the uOfCfuucnt, COuuuCtSu luueT AUS du
thority, and its results published to the
world under its sanction. The influence Of
such Il report, designating the localities Of
the gold bearing rocks, and placers and sill
yer lodes, with explanations as to their
leading characteristics and probable extent,
accompanied with practical suggestions
upon the exploration Of the precious metal,
would of itself be very great, and would
many times repay the expense Ct the COM
mission; but when, in addition to such in
formation, it embraced that also pertaining
TO the useful metals, the soil, and pro-
ductive capacities Of the valleys and
plains and hillsides, the means by which
irrigation may be effected, supplies of fuel
and building materials obtained, and the spe-
cial adaptation of each locality, it would do
more, it is believed, to disseminate cor
rect knowledge Of this extraordinary por-
inn NJ n,r nnblic domain, and invite CAPT. |