The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-12-25
A GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

AT the instance of the Kansas Acad-
envy of Science, a strong effort will be
made to have bill passed at the next
session of the legislature, providing fol
a geological survey of the state. The
movement is one which would un-
doubtedly result lin great and substan-
tial benefit TO the state, and will GER
tainly meet with little opposition il
fairly understood. To aid in having ii
properly understood, the Academy at
its last meeting, issued short circular
giving the following reasons why there
should be such a survey:
A geological survey, carefully made,
of any extended area, reveals the char
acter of the rock formations for several
hundred feet of thickness, and there
fore makes known where may or may
not be found theuseful minerals coal,
salt, building-stone, iron, lead etc.
Such survey also makes known the
dip or slope of the strata, and therefore
gives Indications of probable water
supply in various localities.
Much geological knowledge of Kan
sas has been obtained, but it is in the
hands of private persons who have in
their devotion to science, made many
explorations, but this knowledge is
available to the public generally to a
very limited extent. Within the last
two years, biologists have found min
erals in our western counties which
further examination will doubtlessly
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 as for the definite adj
vancement of science, have. y ct reveal
ed material resources which have adj
ded to the outlets for the useful employ
ment of capital and labor.
Many of our sister States have caused
geological surveys to be made, extend
ing over 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 (Tuscarawas)
has large industry in mining coal,
the existence of which was made
known by the geological survey. The
State of Ohio as a whole has been inn
mensely benefited by the survey, on
which it has expended large sums.
The great State Of New York has
employed eminent biologists for a long
time, with experts in other depart
ments of science, at total cost of over
half a million dollars, and the evidence
of the most direct kind shows that the
expenditure has resulted in the profit
able investment of capital to q great
amount; and Improbable investments
in prospecting for minerals, which
were formerly common in that State,
have ceased since the definite results
of the survey have been made known.
In every state that has tried it, BEN
efits have been received from this work
in proportion to the time and expense
that have been spent on it.
In our own State, the lack of definite
knowledge as to the boundaries of our
coal fields has led to the expenditure
of capital in many useless undertake
ings. For example, in Morris county
shaft to the depth of three hundred
feet was sunk; in Sedgwick county a
depth of eleven hundred feet was
reached, and in Marion a boring of sew
en- hundred feet was made-all at
great cost and without any returns.
Ignorance of the principles and facts
that govern the supply of water in
wells is in many places leading to SIM
liar wasteful experiments. A geolog-
ical survey would stop this waste, and
point out directions where labor would
meet with reward and capital increase
by investment.
The cost of survey is so small, COM
pared with the advantages to be reaped
that there should be no longer delay.
A tax of one-twentieth of mill would
produce about as much revenue as it
would require to put the survey in
good working condition, though a lar
ger sum would hasten the final accom-
plishment. This continued for series
of years would produce results in sci
entific and economic progress, Of which
all citizens would be justly proud.