Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1877-12-23
THE STATE MINERALOGISTS REPLY
TO W. d. CUNNING.

and intimates that the State Mlneraloglst has
perpetrated a gross fraud upon them in the
publication of his reports. He also mtlmates
that he has no personal motive in publishing
the card, for he says that he Is unknown to
the Mineralogist. The sequel will show
whether or not he is entitled to credence.
These reports of the Mineralogist were pub
lished by the authority of the State Leglsa-
lature. They have been discussed so fire.
quentlv by the press of the State that the
people are quite as well posted in regard to
them as w D. Cunning, and it is only nause
ating to sensible people to hear any further
discussion on the subject. If it will afford,
however, any satisfaction to the great geolo-
gist who has so recently stumbled upon the
reports, the writer will frankly admit that
they are not perfect models in the art of COM
pilation, and that he falls far below the stan
dard Of this notorious compiler, W. D. Gun
ming This successful critic, and writer of the
newspaper putfs concerning his g Six Illus
| trated Lectures on the Subject of GeolOgy"
has evidently been at great deal of pains IN
searching through these reports of the State
and as he has given TO the public the result of
his labors and his opinion of that officer, it
would hardly be courteous in the State Min
eralogist not to reply to it, and especially as he
himself suggests the publishing of a card for
that purpose. The Professor can hardly
take exception, then, to my telling the public
what | know about ". D. Cunning, About
one month ago he came to my office and in
troduced himself as Professor Cunning, 1.-The
Scientific Lecturer and Geologist. He said
that he wished to deliver his . Six illustrated
Lectures in Carson. He asked me to help
him secure one of the churches for that pur-
pose. [ went with him and found the Rev.
Mr. Hammond, who declined giving him the
use of the Methodist church. The Rev Glr.
McClain was then hunted up and he referred
Us to the Trustees of the Presbyterian
church. The trustees were then visited and
permission was given for the six illustrated
Lectures to be given III their church. He
said he intended to ignore the editor of the
Carson Tribune and asked HE TO 60 with and
introduce him to the editor of the MORNING !
APPEAL did 50, and recommended him to the
good Offices of both Mr.. NEghels and Mr. |
Kelly, State Superintendent Of Public In |
struction, who were both in the office at the |
time of our visit. We returned to my Office,
where he spent most of the day, | extended to |
him every courtesy possible, introducing him |
to many gentlemen and recommending him |
to their favor. He d%.ed for and received |
copies of my reports. He asked for and re-
ceiyed permission to make his headquarters in
my office while he remained III Carson. Be
lieving that he was an educated gentleman,
from seeing the many fattering notices by
the press of Virginia City, | felt hon
ored in having the privilege of entertaining
him and expected to derive great benefit
from my association with him. [ spent some
time in showing and describing different spec
linens to him in the State collection. p0Jtjc-
MaI(y pointed out and described to him some
rely rare specimens Of the mineral goy-lNssite
but found very quickly that he did not knolc
the anmes Of the coD3mYHeSt minerals, ard that
he had little knowledge of mineralogy. He
soon proved to be an intOlerable bore, he kept
constantly recurring to his q; ficulty with Mr..
Parkinson and asking my adv zee in that mat
ter [ told him that my advice would be of
no value, but that if he wished any success
for his lectures he could not afford to quarrel
with the newspaper men, and that he had
better call on Mr.. Parkinson and have an adj
yertisement inserted in his paper. He said
he should ignore Mr. Parkinson altogether,
and used very opprobrious epithets in his
abuse of that person which were not at all
becoming in a gentleman so highly recon-
mended by the press. He boldly asserted
that the COmstock lode would soon be worked
out and gave as proof, his own statement that
Z 10ths of the bullion produced theretrom had {
been extracted from above the 600-foot level.
He asserted that Mr.. Clarence King had not S
properly described the rocks of Mount David t
son, that Daron Richthofen was mistaken in 6
his report of the Comstock aud would now t
change his report if it were to be written !;
again. For these and other reasons became c
that W. D. Cunning was a grand $
'alsi6er of facts, and that he could not be very
reliable authority on subjects to which he I
makes such great pretensions. He apologized
however, for his lack of interest in mineralogy
oy saying that this was purely business visit,
md that when he came again he would stay 9
With me whole week and examine the rocks
md hills in the vicinity of Carson [
nwardly offered up the petition, Good Lord, a
leliver me from this affection" Before leav-
NC he gave me his tickets of admission to the
six Illustrated lectures" and asked me to ar k
ange for their sale at the proper places. O
During his absence [ received two letters
rom him which gave directions concerning
lis plans for his now tiresome, ''six illustrated
all of which directions [ promptly
ttended to- When he returned for the pur-
ose of delivering his lectures, he established t.
himself again in my Office and used my station
ry, postage stamps, ETC., quite freely without
0 much as once saying ''thank you" for t
j. To all of which made no objection. [
TENDED his first lecture That was enough.
was simply very weak and tedious COM F
ilation of some of the fist principles of geol-