The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-03
Geological SURVEYS.

A bill is before the Legislature to
provide for e geological and topo.
graphical survey of the coal fields of
Western Maryland, with a view 10
determine the extent of these regions.
the depth of the veins and their
probable yield to collect cabinet
of minerals for Annapolis, prepare a
map and do other work in further
ances of these special purposes. The
survey is proposed to be conducted
under the direction of the board of
public works, who are also to have
the appointment of the surveyors
and biologists, and $4,000 a year for
three years is the sum 10 be appro
priated to carry out the objects of the
bill. The people of Maryland, as re-
CARDS experiences with geological
surveys and State agricultural chem.
istry, are somewhat in the condition
of the burnt child who breads the fire.
Still, they could well afford, and GER
tainly would not begrudge the ex-
pense of general geological and
economic survey of the State, prop
erly and thoroughly made, for there
are many of the counties which are
rich in a great variety of minerals
and of other substances valuable in
the arts and in manufactures. Asfor
special surveys of limited regions,
they should properly DE made by the
particulars interests to be benefited.
The capitalists who have such large
mining properties in Garrett and
Allegany counties ought to be very
we'll able to pay for having their own
estates surveyed and accurate meas
urements made of the depth of their
coal seams. A bill authorizing such
well-known organization as the
Maryland Academy Of Sciences to
complete the geological survey of the
State, and appropriating limited
sum to be used by it, under proper
restrictions, for that purpose, ought
to be generally acceptable to the peo-
pie of the State, and might be the
means of accomplishing much good
at trifling cost. 1t would enable
the Academy to fill its cabinets and
complete it's collections of our min
erals, so as to exhibit all the geologi-
cal peculiarities and phenomena of
the State, in their scientific and econ
omic order. 1t would enable the
manufacturing interests of the State
to understand more about its resOuro
ces and the people of the various
sections to know what treasures I'M
derlie their soils. A this work could
be well and thoroughly done, and so
cheaply, withal, as to surprise every
one, Such survey would be en-
phaticalIy a State survey. and it
could probably be made in the way
suggested for the sum proposed to be
appropriated for the coal fields sur
veys, the printing and distribution
of the reports of course requiring
further appropriation. The State
geologist of New Jersey, Prof Geo.
H. Cook, of New Brunswick, whose
report for the year 1879 is now before
US, has, with the aid of an assistant
geologist and asmal staff, been max
ing very thorough survey of that
State at a moderate cost. His work
is well done, and has proved to be
directly servicable to the people in
the way of practical suggestions, and
of numerous discoveries of resources
not before guessed. His directions
in regard to how to scar CHI for iron
ores and determine their value for
development; his analyses of soils,
and his practical and interesting OBJ
servations upon the State water sup>
ply, and how to increase and utalize
it, are of importance to the whole
community. BdHo. San.