The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-09-05
GEOLOGY AND NATURAL his TORY

TIE Department Ci Geology and Natural
History of the State of Indiana is fortunately
in charge OF Hon. Iohu COllett, State Geolo-
gist, and it is only necessary TO mention the
name of the distinguished scientist TO know
that his reports are rs valuable "a thorough
knowledge of the subjects treated aud ur-
wsvering fidelity TO the duties of bus Depart
ment can make them The twelfth annual
report is on our table, for which we are in
debted TO the courtesy of the learned author.
Geology is said 20 be that branch of science
which compreheuds the knowledgeof all that
relates to the form structure, mineral and.fos-
sill constituencies the earth. and it will, there
fore, be readily understood that thorough
geological survey az the State must OF neces-
sity be means OF supplying the people With
a vast amount OF valuable information, which
without such survey would never be
furnished. Taking this view of the subject,
Indiana is to be complimented upon her
advanced position taken in this important
matter as the volume before US is testimony
that for twelve yesTs past the survey has
been going forward, and the valuable
knowledge thus obtained widely distributed.
In regard TO building stone the report says:
TIE rocks Of the state contribute largely to her
wealth. Tor they contain some Of the finest bIili-
ing ~ ne in the country ard The supply compar-
siyelY Gndegeloped yet is practically inexhausti-
be. The ey, client qusilies, durability and
cesuty 81 these Indiana stones are just beginning
10 he recognized Tor bUiltiDg purposes throughout
the country and the quarrying interests promise
to become important feature in the products OF
he rssarr y, q
being eXtenN rely used 10 some OF the mostexpen-
sive and imposing buildings throughout the
countrT anc Tie demand is Increasing as
II becomes better known. During the year 1880
the pital invested Ia the operation Ct quarries
was s6l35Go, and the output OF material was s.41S.
s7 bic feet worth 1908 10 about $50 900 more
than the total ca pitsl employed. To effect this re-
suit reauired the labor OF ss m sn and Is horses
and nc use Of thirteen steam ehalnellers in quar-
ryiug. l0T derrieks and cranes ia hOisting four
teen saw mills and forty two gangs of saws (three
per mii IN dicssiBg while 80, cubic yards of
space we've excsvaied, ia doing which 81 300 worth
of powder and dynamite used.
In the matter of sandstOnes Professor Col
lett says that the saudstones OF Indiana &C.
cur ia a broad belt from the Illinois line, in
Warren County south and s0uthesst through
the Counties of Fountain, Vermillion, Mont
gomery, rsrke. Putnam, Clay, owen, Greene,
Martin, Pike, Dubois, Orange, Perry, Craw
ford and Hsrrison to the Oaio River. This
is the Conslomerate sand-rOck forming the
base OF the coal measures, and the same as
the sandstones 20 famous in Scotch and
English architecture; and, though irregular
in color and ply steal characteristics to some
extent, presents great bed of building ms
terial, frost, fire and water proof, and OF
practical value for permanence and solidity."
We are told that the coal fields of Indiana
are embraced in al area of about 900 square
miles, and that the quality of the
Goals ranges from fair TO superior" We
are also informed that during the
past year the coal mines of
the State employe 900 men, to whom were
! paid wages amounting TO over s15O0,0 900. In
the mines was invested capital of So 5O0,-
coo. while the product was 1900 900 tons OF
coal, worth at the mines - 500. 600, a sum
equal 10 The capital invested. From a small
beginning in a region where wood fuel was
SO abundant rs 10 be drawback, the excel
lent quality Of our coal has promoted Indi-
! sua to the place of sixth in the coal-produc-