The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-01-13

porations that are enfranchised by It,
and of our citizens who have invest
ments In stocks and bonds amounting
to many millions of dollars, | most
earnestly invite your serious exanina-
ton of IL, and your early action there
on.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
A reliable geological and mineralogi.
cal survey would be of ofincalculable val
ue to the State. Without it we have
indefinite ideas of our vast undevel-
oped mineral wealth, and the expense
attending it would ba utterly insignia.
cant when compared with the beneficial
results. We are, at present, without
even reliable map to indicate the 10.
cality, charact er and resources OF our
mineral regions. And as good maps
are the basis of all useful research in
every department of science and the
arts, especially in the practical sciences
of geology. and metallurgy, the first
step toward a geological survey Is to OBJ
tain as correct map as possible, If not
of the entire State, at least of such parts
thereof as are of the most importance
to be studied geologically. This will
be a work of labor and time, and can
only be accomplished successfully by
triangulating each county separately,
and from the county maps thus ac-
quircd, constructing a complete and
accurate map of the whole State. 1t is
neither wise nor just policy to delay
this work because it may be more per-
1ectly effected at some future time.
There can be no such thing as a final
geological report. New development
in mineral resources, as well as addi-
"a - In, al a., l.
edge, will constantly be made as long
as the world exists.
The general voice of the business
community and land ownership of the
State demands this survey. 1t is espe-
ciaily called for by the oil regions,
newly discovered coal fields, and by
the iron, manufacturing and railroad
interests. Large portions of the State
remain, to great extent, unstudied by
scientific and practical men. The old
survey of 1896 II did good work. but
it is of little value now, except in
few localities. Since il was made,
wonderful discoveries have taken
place, and problems Of structure and
deposit still remain unsolved, doubtless
involving many millions of dollars in
value. Then, many Of the back coun-
ties were comparatively unsettled, and
scarcely any openings were made in
our mineral districts, except in thausn-
thracite coal basins and around Pitts.
burg, Now, the State is full of trial
shafts and private explorations extern
sive forests have been cleared; roads
penetrated what where inaccessible re-
gions ; railways traverse whole coun-
ties with instrumental field work
many thousands of oil and salt wells
hnnn
in working order; the population has
advanced in Intelligence and grown
more observant and enterprising, and
the skill of the geolOgist, metall urgist
and surveyor has reached higher de-
gree of perfection.
Posterity has its claims upon us and
1t should be considered that whatever
Is done for the present generation is so
much accomplished for the generation
that may follow. Ono important func-
ton of geological survey is to pre-
serve knowledge for future use. Sci
ence is cumulative, and its advances
are slow. 1T must collect many facts
before it arrives at true conclusions.
For want of proper bureau of statis-
tics, and a corps of observation and
publication to collate and relate the
lacts of our geology and minerology as
they have appeared, the State has al
ready suffered severely. Much valua.
Bile Information has been lost, never to
be recovered and but little certain
knowledge of past mining, and other
scientific operations, has been preserved
to govern and assist the future engi.
neer. The sooner, therefore, in nv
opinion, Il geological survey is author.
lied, the better will it be for the pros
pectivc interests of the State, as well a.
for lis rrescut necessities.
BOARD OF PUBLIC CHARITIES.
Under the requirements of an act. an.
proved April -, 1850, appointed five
commissioners To constitute ii Board of
PGu.ic Charities, who, ut all times, have
full power to look into and examine
the condition of all charitable, reform.
atory or correctional institutions with
in the State; and at least once in every
year visit all such rs are receiving State
and, to examine everything connected
with their management, and especially
TO ascertain whether the funds appro.
priated to them are economically and
Judiciously expended. The requisite
number Of gentlemen, possessing the
necessary qualifications, have generous
~ consented to serve on this Board,
which is now fully organized, and the
objects contemplated are being accom-
plished. Early during the session their
hrst annual report will be presented for
your consideration, which will give a
luli account Of the extent and import
ance of their philanthropic transactions
in behalf Of the Commonwealth.
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
am informed that the picture of the
Battle of Gettysburg, painted by order
OF the Legislature, has been completed,
AS this valuable production is the prop.
erty of the State, deem it important
that you should appoint a committee,
with whom | shall be pleased to coop.
crate, to take ii in charge and prepare
q place suitable for its accommodation
rms should be made sufficiently capac.
louS, and so arranged as to AFFORD an
for the display of the flags
and other relics of interest to the citi.
zens OF the States, and to the numerous
visitors ut the Capital.
DELAWARE BOUNDARY LINE.
The Legislature, at its session of 1869.
passed an act, entitled "An Act to set,
tie, determine and locate the southern
II,
In conformity Herewith commissioners
We're appointed to act Sin conjunction
with like commissioners on the part of
the State of Delaware" That State
however, has failed, thus far, to make
the necessary appointments. The work
remains unaccomplished
and the boundary line is not definitely
fixed.
Under ordinary circumstances this
might not be regarded as important /;
but when it is considered that there is
q material dillerence in the penal codes
OF the two States, and that the code of
Delaware contains certain provisions,
and authorizes the inhicton of punish.
ments repugnant to all the citizens of
pennsylvania, serious evils may some
day arise out of the neglect TO determ.
inc this line. 1t is impossible to tell
what might transpire, should the State
of Delaware seize upon a citizen and
subject him to the diSgraceful and alb.
horrent punishment of the pillory and
the whipping post, who, upon subse.
quent investigation, was ascertained to
have his residence in Pennsylyania.
mi