The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-11-24
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF WEST
VIRGINIA.
lis Iunucncc Upon the Prospcrit
of the SIaie-Thc Developments Of
the Resources of the state. Both Az
ricuIturaI and sIincraI-Its Objects
and iGIlitS.

For several years past, on different &C
ca,ions. there have been suggestions by
variou, citizens that Geological Survey
OF our State should be made, and would
be Il worthy object for when our Logs
nturc should make an appropriation. 1t
j. to cali the attention of our citizens,
and particularly the attention Of our
Legislature, To- the Importance of such
work, that this article is prepared.
Geology Is 10 longer based upon rick
ETY. theories for It's support as science,
hut laws Us foundation upon the solid
rocks; and thus from the archives Of ma
turc seeks t. present knowledge of the
changes which modify the structure of
our planet Several of the States of our
Union. recognizing the Importance Of II
/ knowledge OF their own resources, have
already had Geological Surveys made.
/ Many others are having these surveys
conducted at present, and. so important
/ Is this work, that the general Government
/ finds they are necessary in order to de
/ velop the resources Of the Western terri
/ tories. and hence, constantly has her geo-
/ oglsts at work in those regions which
/ are not, as yet, under State Govern
mcnts.
\ Geological Survey would not only
| develop the extent and point out the To-
cahty of our mineral resources,
| but it would also contribute to our
knowledge Of our soils. The soils
are, indeed geological products,
for they are, in great measure,
the results of the disIntegration or
crumbling OF The rocks Hence we have
, Limestone slate or granite soils. Their
connection with the rocks is even more
/ intimate than this as both geology and
! chemistry show.
+ Political economy points ont to us that
. the prosperity of any State depends Iarg
| " upon the development of its agricu!
/ tura and mineral resources. Our min
cral wealth is aS yet comparatively un-
/ known, and geological survey would
| exhibit and publish it to the world.
| What is now known to only few in
| divIdual- concerning our extensive coal
/ fields. and vast supplies of timber, iron,
| salt and oil would then sccome more gen
orally knowp. Thus would cause imml-
grafton and capital to flow iIto our State.
| 1t would stimulate industry and extend
our manufactures. 1t would promote
/ commerce and increase our wealth.
There has, | believe never been Any
/ Geological work done in our State, eN
cent what has been done by private en-
/ terprisc. If some one had only gone
over the State and traced out the extent
of any of the geological formations, 1t
would assist us greatly in estimating our
wealth. Now suppose some practical sc
/ ologlst should follow vein of iron-ore
through the several counties in which it
NAV be found and indicate to the cltI-
| Zens of those counties thepoints at which
il NAV be- mined most economically;
/ should point out the most suitable sites
for furnaces and FORCES, the points Tor
opening walbauks aud quarrlesi and TO
7 this information should give them some
hints upon the improvement OF their
lands. the most profitable and suitable
products for them to cultivate, &c, Nc,
will any one argue that such inforlns-
ton would not be Of very great use:
"kRor NuSeif was written over the
portal at Delphi II acknowledges
knowledge ct an individuals powers, is
necessary to his greatest success, how
: much more necessary Is II for State.
which may be considered as number OF
single individuals associated together IN
der one government, 10 k1,orr ''>ef' II
is not only necessary that an individual
or a State should know what II has. but
1T is also equally important that 1t should
know what it has not. y State may
have all the wealth -! AN E.dorado, but
if she is ignorant of ii, it Is useless.
Again she may have no mineral wealth,
but if her citizens suspect she has some.
they may spend large sums OF money
useiessly in search of 1t. We have seen
persons in Kentucky and Tennessee
sinking shafts for coal when they were
already hundreds of feet below the lowest
oal-formatlon known. There are many