New-York tribune., 1869-05-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
prcOrrRCFs OF EEW-JFRSEY.


Su,orocy OF NEw-JERsEY. BY Authority Of TN. the
Legislature GEoRGE n COOK, S Sta,ee ae HeYagers
svo. PIP. sJ9 Published by the Board oi "4 -
The report contained in this volume IS almost tno
FIRST of its class which has seemed to DO DaSeG on tnO
idea that the Geological Survey was underLAAen lo'
tbe purpose of developing the resources OF the otao
Az n question of pure science, survey Oh Ne"-
Isrse, yvas almost an unnecessary LABOR Inc gIeaV
states of New-York and Pennsylvania, which hen ~
ir an tlree sides had been as Thoroughly surveyed
or,S rennrted upon as the very highest geological
1Io,t of the country could do it. The work IN these
states had necessarily run over their Doundarles
into their neighbors; for geological stratneatlon'
and lines OF upheaval aud mountain chains dc not
vton at State boundaries. Nearly every formation,
therefore. which is found in New-Jersey had
already been studied with reference TO the
qreat questions of Theological auperpOstion, modes
0f deposit, and the characteristic features OF their
fossil remains The author of the present volume has
not been unmndful of these important inquiries and
the scientific reader viii find that he has cleared up
not few of the mysteries beQueathed by bis prede-
eessors and strsig ghtened out some of the KINKS IN
the chain of geological research which they had Ieft
Bat he has recognized that there was work 10 De
done which was more important to the growth and
prosperty of the State than this scientific exanna
tion. This work consisted in studying the Industrial
resources Of the State. and making them known 10
is citizens; in pointing out how these resources may
be best made availabe and in furnishing such
knowledge of their limits. extent, and character, as
will insure their rapid development and at the same
time discourage wild and chimerical schemes. Let
us gather from the volume before US some slight
account of the resources Of New-Jersey.
1 Agricultural ReSOurCes.-The cultivation OF the
soil must always be the most important branch OF
Industry in any prosperous country. There are two
lements in the value Of land used for agricultural
purposes The first is its real fertility the second
h its distance from those centers where its products
are in demand. Exceptionally fertile land will re-
pay cultivation at great distance trom markets.
Very poor land will repay cultivation, even
at very expensive rates, when 1t IS near
them. Eew-Jersey. with respect to tho last OF
fAese elements has surely advantages superior 70
those of any other State IN the Union hew-fOrk
and Philadelphia lie at its two extremes, and with
unsuitable voracity devOur every cabbage, and po-
tato, and strawberry, which she can ispare to them.
Railroads cross her territory in all directions, and
carry even the most perishabe Of her products nn-
harmed to the consumers. The means of quick and
cheap transportation will always give New-Jersey'
sven with an inferior soil, an advantage over her
more distant rivals. The quoted price OF
corn in the Rew-York market is usually
nj least 5 cents per bushe higher than IN Chicago
The Rew-Jersey farmer may therefore expend 50
raise proportonay smaller CROP and still stand on
par with his Illinois rival. This is not quite all ;
his easy access to the market enables the NewJersey
farmer by watching the variations IN prices to send
his products at the time they command the best re-
turns; whereas the distant farmer must take his
chances of the market whenever his products reach
il, These advantages have made themselves felt
In the preface TO his report, Dr. Cook gives us most
interesting table of the comparative values OF land
ia IL IN
story Of the advantage which the position of New
jersey gives her in the agricultural scale and of the
lacreasng weight of this consideration the value
Of her lands