The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-07
INDIANA'S RESOURCES.
Twelfth Annual Report of the State
Geologist.
Condition of the State Museum-value OF
the Departnent-The Coal
Fields.

the COal
Fields.
The twelfth annual report of the State Depart
ment of Geology and Natural History was sub
mitted 10 the General Assembly yesterday by
DR.. John Collet, showing the work of the depart
ment during the last year in developing the
naturnal resources of the State. The Indiana
building stones, the finest and most durable in
the world, now finding ready market in all
the leading cities of the country, and there is a
rapidly grow demand for Indiana cements
which the geologist states are IN quality second
to none in the country.
In speaking of the State Museum, DR.. Collett
says that the collection very fully represents tho
archaeological, archaeological and mineral re-
sources of the State, while the collection of spec
linens of the silurian. Devonian and sub-carbon-
ferrous ages is one the best in the world. The
total number of specimens at the time of last
years report was 4,424. During the year al
ditions have been made until now the humber
exceeds 100000, estimated to be worth over
100000.
The forthcoming volume will contain detailed
reports upon surveys OF Marion county, by Dr.
R. T. Brown; Jay county, by Rev, d. C. McCas-
LIN; Randolph county, by DR.. A. ]. Phin-
ney, and Decatur county by Dr.
Moses N Elrod. James Hall, geologist
OF New YORK, and distinguished paleontoo
gist, contributes review of the remainder of
the figures of the Van Cleve fossils, with des-
criptions having particular reference to the
geology of Indiana. marked feature of the
volume will be the contribution of Professor
Leo Lesquereux upon paleczoic botany, giving
ngures and drawings illustrating the forest bot
any OF lndiana's coal measures. Rev. George L.
Curtiss gives a carefully prepared paper, with
Illustrations, upon the microscopic study of the
animacue found in the water in indianapolis
and vicinity. "By these figures" the Geologist
consolingly remarks, "every one can see the
forms OF the animals which it delights his
soul to swallow" The work of the Geoogist
during the past year has been more particularly
devoted 10 examinations OF Newton and Jasper
counties. His time, however, has been more
largely occupied in office work, and his CORE
spondenee has amounted to 1920 or 1,500 let
ters, some of which required the greatest care
and study, as they involved information upon
which depended the expenditure of thousands of
dollars" The compilation and publication OF
the last annual report Of the State Geologist cost
at the rate OF less than 81 a volume, while in 9TH
er States the cost of production varies from So
TO SID, and averages 81. so a copy. In speaking
of the demand for the reports of the department
DIR. Collett says: "Tney not alone con-
tributions to the science of the age, but enable
the students and teachers of the State to gain
cess to valuable scientific knowledge at a NOM
inal cost, while the library of a scie 1tist will
often cost from $4,000 to $4,000
Some valuable contributions 10 the scientific
literature of the State are promised for the flu
ture. G. c. A. White, the United States palon.
tologist of the Smithsonian Institute, lis pre-
pairing figures and descriptions OF the coal
measure fossil animals of Indiana, while Prof. i.
P. Cope, of Philadelphia distinguished com
parativo anatomist, is carefully preparing
paper upon the plestocene fossils of the State,
| including the mastodon, elephant, megalonyx,
the great beaver, the great deer, and other
giant animals. contribution upon the forces
which have moulded the surface of the valley of
the continent and by which tbs soils of indiana
have been so greatly enriched, written by Prof.
Newberry OF Columbia College, New York, the
dynamical geOlOgist, is promised.
The appropriation for the maintenance of the
department during 1881 and 1882 was $4,000.
Of this amount IS, 620.97 was expended, and
there is now a balance. on hand of SI,379.o3,
which, under the provisions of the appropria-
ton, goes TO the general fund of the State
treasury. An appropriation of $4,000 for the
next two years will be necessary, and an addi-
tional amount of $4,000 is asked for the pur-
chase of three collections of prehistoric relics
valued at ST 900
In a brief review of the general economic Ceol-
ogy of the State, DR.. Collett states that "the
duarrying interests promise to become i'm
p0rtanu feature In the products Of the State in
the near future" During the year 1880 the cap
ital invested IN the operation of quarries was
S613,oO0, and the output OF material was S4l3,
S27 cubic feet, worth $633.775, or about 500 900
more than the total capital employed. To effect
this result required the labor of l,7SS men and
545 horses, and the use of 13 steam channellers
in quarrying, 10Y derricks and cranes in hoist
ing. ID saw-mills and AZ gangs of saws q per
mill in dressing, while 5,727, 225 cubic yards of
space were excavated, in doing which So, 800
worth of powder and dynamite was used.
The Indiana coal fields, which cover an area of
about 1000 square miles, are simply inexhaust-
ible. The State Geologlst reports that there are
twelve seams, at depths ranging from the sur
face to 800 feet below Five of these
seams, varying from One-half foot to
eleven feet and averaging five feet in thickness
can be operated at all times. The block coal Is
well adapted to use in the manufacture of Besse-
mer steel careful test of the comparative
merits of coal from Greene county ana from
Pittsburg was made by j. j. Turner, superin-
tendent of the Indianapolis & Vincennes rail-
road, as used by The locomotives on his nne
with the following results:
Pittsburg Indiana
Wheels hauled one mile per ton
Gallons OF water oyapOrated per
Ton c0al,...-- ,0S .J2
Average temperature during test 800 5000
! Total consumption. ............... 40 IS
Indiana now stands sixth among the coal-pro-
ducing States Daring the last year 1906 men
Were employed, to whom were paid wages
amounting to over 81 100000. In the mines
was invested capital of So 800 900, while the
product was 100000 tons of COAL worth at
the mine $2,5OO,0J0, sum equal to the capital