The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-12-25
/ KANSAS GEOLOGICAL SUR.


THE NEWS Is glad TO note the energy
with which the members Of the Kansas
Academy Of Science and others who ap.
prsciate the importance of such work
are pushing the matter Of an sppropri-
asion for a geological survey Of the state,
. matter of good deal Of importance in
determining the nature and location OF
the mineral resources OF the state, and q
matter tor which a sufficient legislative
appropriation would be an exhibition Of
true economy.
Much geological knowledge OF Kan
sas has been obtained. but it Il IN the
hands OF private persons who have In
their devotion 10 science made many ex-
pIoratlons, but this knowledge ia avail
BILE by the public generally to a very
limited exteat. Within the last two
years. biologists have found minerals in
our western counties which further ex-
animation will dOubtiessly show to be
Of considerable value, and which are
even now being utilized.
Nearly all civilized countries have
caused surveys to be made which, con-
Quoted simply a. for the definite ad-
Gancement Of science, have yet revealed
material resources which have largely
added to the outlets for the useful en-
ployment of capital and labor. Many Of
our sister states have caused geological
surveys to be made, extending over 3
long series of years, which have made
known mineral resources, the use of
which has greatly increased the wealth
of the state. In Michigan there are now
millions Of dollars of taxable value IN
salt works. the existence Of which Is due
entirely to the geological survey. One
county in Ohio CTuscaraWas) has q large
industry in mining coal, the existence
Of which was made known by the geo.
logical survey. The state of Ohio as q
whole has been immensely benefited by
the survey. on which 1t has expended
large sums. The great state OF New
York has employed eminent geolo-
gists tor a long time. with experts
in other departments of science. at q
total cost of over half million dollars,
and the evidence Of the most direct kind
shows that the expenditure has resulted
IN the profitable investment Of capital
to q great amount; and Improbable in
Vestments in prospecting for minerals.
which were formerly common in that
state have ceased since the definite re-
suits have been made known In every
/ bet hao krfnA honaASa hOxyo hooVa
received from this work in proportion
to the time aud expense that have been
spent on II.
In our state the lack ofdehnite knoWl-
edge as to the boundaries Of our coal
fields has led to the expenditure of cap
ital in many useless undertakings. For
example, in Morris county q
shaft to the depth of three
hundred feet was sunk; In Sedg-
wick county depth of eleven hundred
feet was reached, and in Marion boring
of seven hundred feet was made
all at q great cost and without
any returns. Ignorance of the princi
pies and facts that govern the supply OF
water In wells is In many places leading
to similar wastetul experiments. A
geological survey would stop this waste
and point out directions where labor
would meet with reward aud capital In
crease by investment. The cost of g sur
vey is 20 small, compared with the ad-
vantages to be reaped, that there shoulC
be no longer delay. A tax of one-tWen-
tieth OF a mill would produce about al
much revenue as it would require to pu
the survey in good working condition
though larger sum would hasten the
final accomplishment. This continued
for q series of years would produce re-
suits in scientific and economic pro
gress, OF which all citizens would b
justly proud.