The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-07-14

The last General Assembly of Lou
isiana made an appropriation for
Geological and Typographical Survey
IF the State to be conducted under the
direction of the Academic Board of the
State Seminary. In obedience to this
Act, Col. s. H. Lockett, Professor of
Engineering, and DR.. F. v. Hopkins,
Professor of Chemistry and Geology,
left few days since for North Louis
lana to enter upon quite an extended
tour of observation. These gentlemen
possess scientific attainments of the
highest order and the result of their
labors will be looked for with interest
by those who desire to become acquain-
ted with the treasures concealed by
the soil of our beautiful State.
The following is DR.. Hilgard's letter:
WArERPRooF, La, June 10, 1869.
Col. D. F. BoYD:
Dear Sir-It is with sincere regret
that I find myself compelled to give
up, for the present, my projected visit
to your institution. Various causes
beyond my control have go detained
me on my route. that ever now ] shall
he two days behind the utmost time
set for my return-a serious matter
when the division of my chair and ap-
pointment of assistants is up before
our Board of Trustees, and may fail on
account of my absence.
The causes of detention on my route
have been -fold-frst the high wa
ter and mud in the bottoms-second
and chiefly, the fact that instead Of
meeting the marine tertiary strata in
N. w. Calcasieu, as / had been led to
anticipate, / found the Grand Gulf
rocks only, up to a short distance be-
low Sabine town. Of course / had to
look for every thing else corresponding
ingly further northward than / expect
ed, and my time did not even suffice
to do this satisfactorily. On reaching
Mansfield, / became convinced that
had to do with changed order of
things, and that by the extensive de-
velopment Of group of rocks which
in Mississippi had not thought neces-
sary to distinguish by name, (viz:
the liguitic strata intervening between
the jackson and vicksburg gronps,)
the lines I had expected to traverse
were in part the more northeastward
to the waters of the Washita. Colonel
Lockett and DR.. Hopkins will, there
fore, do best to follow out their origi-
nal plan, by proceeding from Alexand-
ria to Harrisonburg, on which route
they will obtain good view .ot the
Grand Gulf and Orange Sand groupes.
not emitting Sicily Island, where. near
Colonel Hendricks residence, they will
observe the calcsreous strata which
form the Anacoco Prairie; correspond
: ing to "Barnes' Marln Of my report
while on the hilltops near by, they will
] find in gnarled concretions the repre-
sentative of the "Bluff Formation" Of
, Loess. Between Harrisonburg and
Columbia they will find an excellent
opportunity of studying the Vicksburt
rocks; at and above Columbia thu
! apex of the wedge-shaped mass Of tn
5 "Salins" group, interposed in Louisi
ana between the jackson and Vicks
! burg marine strata spreading them q
B as to embrace at least all between Sal
a Augustine and Shreveport. Higher ul
!, on the Washita, however, the jackson
i group with its zeuglodon vertebrae j
|. developed Enthusiastically; and be
!, yond, in Union and Claiborne, the Clai
: borne and Northern Ignite are prob
y ably developed also.
y It would give me great pleasure +
: meet your colleagues in the field, som
i. where on the Washita, above Colum
l bia. I do not know that shall be abb
u to do so, Dut shall not part with m
. good horse and other outfit until fin
70 that I cannot. At present both of u
Of are much worn with 600 miles trava
= in the course of . days; and as for m
!, travelling companions, know they al
Z enjoying to-day, at Harrisonburg, tn
ID absence of the man who would hardl
= give them time to eat and sleep. Ha
Is had but ten days more at my disps
81 sal, could have accomplished m
70 visit to you and obtained the com
80 plete section of the territory which
A hope your friends will make out befol
~ the season ends. Please give than n
nd cordial greeting and regrets at missir
~ ~ for the present, the pleasure OF a pc
ok sonal meeting. Any further informs
". ton they may wish, will be most chez
-, ~, fully given.
- With high esteem,
Your obedient servant.
he EUG. w. HILGARD.