Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-12-03
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ONO.
IRON The Cinolnnati Commercially

/
Some facts relating to the geologica
survey Of Ohio, now in progress, are o
interest Co the general reader. Tht
Legislature Of 1859, as a partial off
set to many sins of omission aud com
mission, did the State some service by
adopting til Q recommendation o.
Governor Hayes, to provide for q geo.
logical survey ofthe State. The pro,
position was not a novel one, il hav.
ing been urged upon the attention oil
the General Assembly BY various pre-
ceding Governors, but as it involved a
small outlay for salaries, aud legisla-
tors are traditionally opposed to eX-
pending money for salaries of public
officers, whatever else they may be
willing to spend it for, these recon.
mendations had been, for q series of
years, unheeded.
The act passed April 8, 1869, au-
thoriZed the Governor to appoint a
corps consisting Of a chief geolOgist
and three competent assistants, the sa-
larry of the chief geologist to be three
thousand dollars, and that of the as
sistants eighteen hundred dollars each
10 make q survey which should have
the following for its objects
"tirst-An examination of the geo.
logical structure of the State, inclu-
ding the dip, magnitude, number, or
der and relative positions of the sever
al strata. their richness in Goals, clays,
ores, mineral waters and manures,
building stone or other useful materi-
ais. the value of such materials for
economic purposes, and their aceessi-
bility for mining or manufacture.
'Second-An accurate chemical an
alysis and classification of the various
soils Of the State, with the view of
discovering the best means of preserV-
ing and improving their fertility, and
of pointing out the most beneficial and
profitable modes of cultivation. Also,
a careful analysis of the different ores.
rocks, peats, mars, clays, salines, and
all mineral waters within the State.
Third-To ascertain, by meteorO-
logical observations, the local causes
which produce variations Of climate in
the different sections Of the State. Also
to determine, By strict bsromentrical
observations, the relative elevation and
depression of the different parts of the
State"
For work ofthis magnitude and inn
portance an appropriation was made for
the specified salaries of the principal
and assistant geologists, eight thous-
and four hundred dollars, and also FIVE
hundred dollars for chemicals and five
dollars for contingent ezpen-
ses, including travelling expenses and
hire cf local assistants, making the
whole appropriation for this object
thirteen thousand nine hundred dol
Iars
The act provides that the survey
shall be completed within three years
from the first of June, 1869. DIR. New
bury, Of Cleveland, was appointed chief
yeolOgist, and Professors Andrews
1f Marietta, and 0rton, of Yellow
Springs, and Mr.. j. III. Klippart, of
Columbus, assistants Professor 7. !
j. Wormley, of Columbus, an eminent /
writer on some specialties in chemis- |
,ry, was appointed chemist whose duty !
should be to analyze specimens Of
sarths, ores, soils and minerals, collec- |
ed from different localities.
In the division of labor for practic- /
Il operations in the field, the south |
eastern section Of the State, which |
comprises some of the richest mineral |
was assigned TO Professor
Andrews. the southwestern to Profes-
sor Orton, and the northeastern TO
Chief GeOlogist NeWbury, who. diVi-
ding his own salary for the purpose of !
raising the necessary funds, employed /
he Rev. Mr.. Hertzer, of Columbus, |
llsO practical geologist, to survey the |
section. Mr.. Klippart 4
vas assigned to the duty of examin-
ng into the agricultural geology Of
be State at large.
Eighteen gentlemen, selected from
much larger number of applicants
throughout the State, we're employed
as local assistants. with no compen-
alton except the payment of expenses.
These last are, In most cases, men con-
lected with colleges, who pursue their
nvestigations.for the satisfaction az
orded thereby and the opportunities
which are presented for the acquisition
IF knowledge in an important field.
Thus the State has, in effect, the ser
,ices Of tWenty-four gentlemen Of in
diligence and learning engaged in this
work.
In setting out upon their investiga-
ions the members Of the corps began /
With the purpose of making an accur-
tie map of the "OutcTUpping" of every
geological formation in the State. This
the aid of science is in
roked to show where valuable miner
Is may be found in paying quantities,
md where it is useless to look for them.
Different soils and earths are to be
and analyzed, that the adap-
ations of particular localities to the
aising of various agricultural products
nay be determined, and where crops
# a particular sort are Improbable.
fertilizers may be suggested,
n crops more cOncenial to the soil be
commended for cultivation.
Where fossil remains are discovered
he explorers are instructed to collect
en- specimens of each kind of fossil,
nd ten specimens of each kind of rock
re also to be gathered, the whole 10
orm perfect geological collections,
light Of which are to be distributed TO
8 many of the collegiate institutions
f the State, for their cabinets.
An important department of this
urvey is that of agricultural Realogy,
7hich has to do with the mechanical
nd chemical composition Of the soil.
q this field of exploration much is
xpeeted of advantage to the agrieul-
uTists of the State. A collection will
Ie made Of the various grasses and
ereals. and analyses had, showing the
Of nutriment of different
rasses. aud the resulting value to the
,roducer. The classification and nom
nclature of soils and their adaptation
O crops, belongs to this Department.
rhIs topic is suggestive, but TO pursue
t would require more space than we
Ievote to this article.
A comparison of the relative pro-
Iuction of wheat in the several cOun-
les of the State during the last eigh.
cen years, made by Mr.. Kippart, who
low has charge af the agricultural de.
,artment Of the geological survey,
hows that only in the counties where
he soil is OF drift" formation did the
Iverage per acre reach ten bushels,
ghile 10 the drift counties, lying be-
ween the Crestline backbone" ridge |
nd the lake aud along the Miami the
production averaged fourteen to SIX
cen bushels. The highest average I