The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-20

We find an excellent article in yester.
days Whig, signed F, upon this subject.
The writer recommends official surveys o.
the State, and the publication reports as
has been done by other States, and proceeds
as follows:
Now, what of this kind has been done
for the State of Virginia2 Almost moth
ing. The world knows in a loose and in
definite way, that Virginia in her climate,
soil, vegetable, animal, aud mineral pro-
auctions, claims to be unsurpassed by any
other country, but she gives no official
guarantee of the truth of such claims.
What little has been published about her
resources, is lost in scattered and detached
papers. When one wishes to know some-
thing about the resources of the State, he
must come and travel over the country,
losing time and spending money. Need
we say that the capitalist cannot afford to
do this2
Now, the question is, whatmu be done
to remedy this?
About the year 1885 the Legislature APP
pointed corps of persons to make
A GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE STATE.
At the head of this stood Professor Will
liam B. Rodgers, gentleman of the
highest scientific attainments. Notwith-
standing the fact that these men had TO
work in entirely unexplored ground, and
were cramped by the smallness of the sum
appropriated, and by the indifference of
the people. much work was done, and even
in that limited time discoveries valuable to
the agricultural interests of the country
were made. Reports were published in
detached form, but never afterwards coll
lected into book form. The result was
that the work ceased from want of sup
port, and there now exists nowhere, in a
combined form, any record of what was
done. Hence Virginia, the Oldest of the
States In the Union, is at this day COM
PEELED, with shame, to admit that less is
known of her natural productions than of
those of the youngest territory of them all.
1t was the purpose of Prof. R., on COM
pleting his Investigations, to establish in
Richmond State collection, in which
would be embraced specimens of the min
erals, soils, vegetable and animal produce
tions of the State, which being open to
the public, and being accompanied by maps
and the printed matter of tho reports,
would furnish
A COMPLETE PHYSICAL HISTORY
OF the State. Here one could 90, aud at
q glance see before him specimens Of every
thing of interest or technical value to be
found In the State. 1t was his desire also
to establish laboratory, where could be
examined the marls, limestones, &C., in
which the State abounds, and 10 whose
development agricultural interests have SO
much at stake.
Such an establishment would form
nucleus for farther collections, such as of
specimens of manufactured articles, models
OF machinery, &C., where the mechanic
and artisan could repair, and study to i'm
prove his productions. Such establish
ments are to be found in all the principal
cities of Europe, and are valued highly as
means Of improving the tastes and skill OF
the working classes.
Now, cannot We at least make a COM
mencement of such an establishment p
The cost would be far less than might be
and we are sure that the people
stand ready heartily to cooperate. F.