The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1884-05-08
Mississippi's UndevelOped
Wealth and Vast Nat
ural Resources.
NATIONAL MUSEUM, !
WASHINGTON, d. c., :
April Both 1884. J
April 9th, If.

EDITORS ABERDEEN EXAMINER:
An article on first page OF your
issue April 10th, "Mississippi in the
National Museum-what she has to
do''-well deserves the attention of
every Mississippian. That is, if the
true object of it is to rouse our peo-
pie to action. If, on the other hand,
censure of the authorities connected
with the Museums, is implied, l beg
leave to say it would be unjust.
The foundation of the Smithsonian
Institution is of comparatively recent
origin, and has no such object for its
creation as illustration of the re-
sources of the several States of this
Union. Neither was that the direct
purpose of the institution of the
National Museum; which had be-
ginning still more recent. AS is
we'll known, this had its origin in the
Centennial Exhibition Of 1876. Then
ask: what did Mississippi do at that
time, to exhibit to the world her
grand resources?
Whatever she then did, and pre-
sented to the county, you will find
here faithfully preserved.
But she was then paralyzed-inca-
pable of much display of energy.
Yes: nor is she recovered yet. Still
you intimate there is power sufficient,
if wisdom can be found to direct it,
and you express confidence that
Mississippi will not be found wanting
on the occasion now presented at
New Orleans. Consummation de-
voutly to be wished. But when we
look back a little in her history-the
past does not cast bright prognosis
for the future. Had we now such a
man as Eugene Hilgard, the practi'
cal geologist, menerologist, botanist
and chemist, we might hope to lead
the South. Wanting the wisdom to
keep such man when we had him,
does not promise much. Our poverty
cannot be pleaded in extenuation for
we are extravagant in making efforts
towards science. Energy enough to
develop one Or two first class insti-
buttons of learning and investigation,
is dissipated upon some half dozen.
Nor will it do to say that Missis-
sippi, having no great deposits of
mineral wealth has no need for geo
logic and other scientific investiga-
ton: Suppose there is no gold,silver,
copper or coal-are there no other
sources of wealth in the bowels of
the earth?
Iron deposits are abundant in Mis-
sissippi; Are we sure that science
can discover no means of rendering
them profitable. Ignite beds are
numerous: are these to be always
without value? Building materials
abound, Beginning in the northeast
corner, and making a section SOUTH
west to Point Hudson-few terrific
ries of equal extent, exhibit SO much
that is interesting in geology and to
political economy.
We have in the sub-carboniferous
rocks of Tishomingo, material for
building stones, for lime and hydraulic
cement; in the next group the creta-
ceous--there is again lime acd build
material and fossils to interest the
students of the world and withal green
sand and weaker marls without limit;
next we have the greatest amount of
Tertiary deposits, and the least dc"
veloped in the world-containing
lignites, building stones, clays and
marls with fossil forms the admira-
ton of scientists, passing these, the
Grand. Gulf group present US any
amount of building stones and clays'