The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-03-05
FREMONT, 8ANDUSKY COUNTY OHIO
MisfeIIaaslsaIdilrs SeIeetioIts.
A GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF
s...-1 ,.s THIS STATE. ~ 4.-

A GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF
si. s THIS, STATE. - sd sea
Report of the Special COMMITTEES OF
' that Subject. sf p
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Your committee have spared neither
time nor pains in giving the subject re
ferred to their consideration that atten
ton which its importance deserves, anG
their labors have embraced wide range
of correspondence and investigation
They have endeaEored to consult such
authorities and collect such information
as could be relied upon in forming a
ljust estimate of,bthe necessity for 8
geological suryey,rits value and cost to
the State, and tbs best plan for its ex
ecution. n - SEES
Passing by the scientific Importance
Justly attached toa thorough examina.
tion of the geological structure of Ohio,
your committee have considered the
matter in It's relation to the material In
terests of the State, and in that enlarg-
ed view which embraces its practical
application to the development of heI
agricultural and mineral resources.
The opportunity and necessity for
such development are sufficiently OBJ
vious. Remote from the ocean and the
advantages of foreign commerce, Ohio
must mainly depend upon the resources
! within her own bosom for her future
prosperity and commercial independ-
ence. Happily we have many proofs
that those resources are measureless in
extent, and in no way surpassed by
those Of anv other State. The surface
annually yields millions to the plough
share, but beneath are other exhaustless
sources of wealth, from which science
and toll may evoke still more numerous
millions. [
Of these hidden resources our knowl-
edge is yet meagre and inadequate.
For want of such knowledge, a large
proportion of our subterranesn treasures
are wholly unProductiye, and add no
more to the active wealth Of the State
than if they did not exist. They lie
untouched by the hand of industry
simply because their value, extent and
adaptions are for the mostpart unknown.
It is true that extensive deposits of iron,
coal, limestone, marls, building stone,
ire-clay, porcelains, salines, peats, DC,
have already been brought to light and
have become the basis of great and
growing manufacturing interest. But
our knowledge of these deposits has
been chiefly gathered from mere surface
indications or partial examinations, and
the interests they have nourished have
been mostly of spontaneous growth, III
so much treasure has been discovered,
and so much wealth produced from ac-
cidental exposure of minerals, and an
imperfect knowledge of their properties,
what beneficial results may we not an
ticipate when these treasures shall be
thoroughly explored and analysedg
1t is matter of no little surprise that
State Of the rank and wealth of Ohio
has SO long neglected matter SO inn
portant. Her sister States, even Of far
less natural advantages, have not been
so unmindful of their interests The
handsome volumes comprising their
geological, agricultural and mineral
ogical surveys, adorn the shelves Of all
the great libraries Of the civilized world
beautiful tokens of public spirit and
potent advertisements TO capital and i'm
migration. With soil of unsurpassed
capacities, with inexhaustible riches
stored beneath her luxuriant fields, Ohio |
has put forth no such invitation to the
worlds capital and enterprise. Her re-
sources are scarcely understood at home,
much less abroad and your committee
are led to the conviction, that while a
large proportion Of capital and immigra-
ton floats past us to other States, which
would be attracted thither if our re-
sources were understood, we are sub
iected to an annual drainage of these
elements of strength and prosperity for
want of proper knowledge of our State
by her own people. Nor is this surpris-
ing when we consider how little Ohio
has done in comparison with other States
to attract this tide of population and
wealth by giving to the world authentic
of her great natural sdvan-
tsges.
Over thirty years ago, an attempt was
made at a geological survey of the
State, the history of which may be
briefly traced: In accordance with the
earnest recommendation of Governor
Lucas, contained in his Annual Message
of 1885, the General Assembly adopted
a resolution authorizing the appointment
Of committee "to report to the next
Legislature the best method of obtain
ing geological survey Of the State and
an estimate of the same" In accord
anee with this resolution, the Governor
appointed committee of four gentle
men Of exalted literary and scientific
who made report to the
General Assembly contain
ing the results of sort of geological
reconnaissance, and recommending the
passage of law "providing for geolog- /
ical survey of the State" In submitting
this report the Executive reiterated his
views upon the subject, as follows:
81 am constrained to express my
entire concurrence with the views of the
and most earnestly RECON-
mend the adoption Of the measures
proposed in their report By the eree-
ion of Geological Board, to be COM
posed of men Of practical science, and
making provision for general geolog-
cal survey of the State, under their j
direction, l am convinced that greater ]
benefit would be conferred upon the {
State and the people at large, than
would be derived from an equal expendi-
.ure in any other enterprise or improve
ment." @-l - AL'sl
The survey was generally regarded
with favor by the people, and their !
representative in the Legislature evinc- |
ID their convictions Of Its necessity and a
utility by the prompt passage Of an act q
March 9th, 1881, J to organize a I
geological corps, and the appropriation T
# twelve thousand dollars, which an fe
lual expenditure for four years the COM {
nittee had estimated would cover the I
;ost of a regular scientific survey. The e
,oard appointed under this act consisted n
# a chief geologist and six assistants Z
md having entered upon its duties
made more or less complete surveys of 10
ileven counties, besides preliminary ex- e
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