The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-04-16
geological SURVEY.

The communication of Prof. Buckley is
one of great interest and will well repay
perusal' Among the necessities of State,
first and foremost, is that of a geological
survey. When minerals exist in large guam
titles, according to their value will be the
wealth of the State; for, when it is salts
factorily ascertained that there are deposits
of the useful and precious metals, one or
both, means will be used for developing
and using them. Hence it is, that State
that abounds with minerals is wealthy, and
capitalists will always furnish the money to
put up the necessary machinery and work
shops to bring them into market. But
before it is known that they do exist
in such quantities as will pay for
mining for them, but few persons
will run the risk of investing and forming
companies for that purpose. So the first
thing to be done is to employ a competent
geologist to make a survey of the whole
State and locate the various deposits and
give the necessary information about the
quantity, character and value of the MINER
ais. So soon as 1t is found that they do ex-
ist in sufficient quantities to make them an
object to be sought out and brought into
use, so soon will there be parties ready to take
hold and work them to the best advantage.
1t can hardly be necessary to write anything
to convince our legislators of this fact. If
they are so ignorant as not to know of the
vast and speedy benefits which arise from
the development of rich mineral deposits, it
would be work, perhaps, thrown away to
try to convince them. And it is not so ne
cessary to discover rich mines of gold and
silver as some would suppose.
The useful metals, such as iron, copper,
lead, platinum and quicksilver, are sufficient
to add millions to the wealth of State, if
they exist in large quantities. 1t is there
fore of great Importance to find out all
about them. 1t is not a waste of money to
pay geologist and assistants to examine
the various localities of a State and find
out mineral deposits. On the contrary, as
a matter of economy, it is well to place one
in the field just so soon as can be done.
Soon the State gets back hundred fold
more from increased taxes. Prof. Buckley
truly writes that all of the States have
geologists in the field, except few. See
how rich Pennsylvania has grown from her
iron aud coal deposits. She is a power in
the land. But how far will she be behind
Texas, in few years, if the proper works.
done to develop her mineral resources.
There is no doubt about it. And it would
be a burning shame if the Legislature should
not make the necessary appropriation to
carry out the survey. In point of economy,
it would be a good move, for the money
would not be lost, but would soon come
back into the Treasury of the State doubled
and quadrupled. Let US not then hear any
one say that it would cost the State too
much-that the treasury is empty, and that
no more appropriations will be made until
we get better off. Such logic is mere twad-
die, and is unworthy of repetition. The
man who came near drowning, and said he.
would not go in bathing again until he
learned how to swim, reasoned Just as well
as the legislator who is opposed to such an
Money must be paid to get
money. Even the tax-gatherer is paid for
the money. 1t is not asking
amiss to request that means be placed |
at the disposal of Professor Buckley
so that he may go all over the State, into
every nook and corner, and find out the de-
posits of all the minerals, coal, etc. By
so doing, we feel satisfied that manufacto1
ries, workshops and mills viii be built in
many places where none now exist, OF will
exist for years to come, without the infor-
nation which he win place before the
IL is useless to have such vast empire
State if it is not developed. It will be no
better off than the. little States, which are
not larger than one OF our counties Texas
can be made richer than New York, with
all her commerce.