The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-08-26

A neat volume of 2S5 pages, issued from
the Sentinel Office, contains the sixth annual
report of the geological survey of Indiana,
under the direction and personal supervis-
ion of the State Geologist, Prof. E. I. Cox.
Besides some very interesting matters OF
general and special interest, the report con-
tains the detailed survey Of four counties,
Brown, Jackson, Scott and jefferson. Why
it is that but four counties should be
surveyed in a single year in the order and
manner proposed for the entire 90 counties
of the state, needs explanation, which Prof.
Cox can doubtless make. Two assistants.
Profs. Borden and Collett, have done the
work in the four counties named, and with
out doubt, have made their Investigations
thorough and as rapidly as consistent with
the evident policy OF taking
1t eCsy." Outside of the re
ports on these four counties which, by the
way, are accompanied by carefully prepared
and we'll executed maps, the other matters
treated are really very fresh, con tainng in
formation on the enc hand, of great interest
to tho naturalist and scholar, and, on the
other hand, to the wealth and prosperity OF
the state. Some work on the fishes of In
diana, furnished by Prof. David s. Jordan is
in the careful and scientific style of that
thorough scholar. 1t is not out of the way
to say OF Prof Jordan who has not long re-
sided in this state, that he is now professor
OF natural science in the \. W. c.. University,
a student Of Agsssiz and already an author
of repute among naturslists. His article on
the Sisco of Lake Tppecsnoe, in Koscuisko
county, will probably attract more attention
among scholars abroad, than the COMMON
people at home. A very full and instruct
i've list of the flora of
Jefferson county is contributed by
Prof. Coulter. of Hanover college. This list
of plants, though made wholly within the
county named, is, of course, very broad
basis for the whole stats, and especially the
southern half of the state. This contribu-
button is worthy of attention by the schools
as valuable aid to the students in botany.
There is, in the report, an entertaining chap
ter on antiquities" with illustrations
throwing light on the half mysterious SUBJ
ject of the ancient races whose
tbeater of activity was once, to
large extent within the state OF Indiana.
But the notable topic of the volume which
interests the business mind, the importance
OF which has scarcely begun to dawn upon
the public, is the beds of porcelain clay, or
kaolin, or, as Prof. Cox has named it, elm
dianaite," which are located in Lawrence
county. Comparatively few are aware that
among the varied and vast resources of this
state there is an almost inexhaustible deposit
of porcelain clay equal, if not superior to the
best in the world, for the manufacture of
stone china queensware and also fine and
pure enough for the manufacture of the
Sevres china. They are not aware, either, of
the measures on foot for the early develop
ment of this wealth. But the public will
probably begin to learn about it when they
see the wares on exhibition at the exposi-
ton this fall. 1t is not extravsgant
TO presume that the annual
addition to the wealth of the state
from this source, will within few years
amount to millions OF dollars. Schemes are
now on foot in quiet way which will prob
ably result in large manufactures of porce-
lain and queensware at Indianapolis. The
Sentinel will refer to this subject more
hereafter. As to the report of
which this article set out to speak, it is,
though not large, practically, the most valu-
able one that has been issued.