The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-10
Indiana Geological Reports.
New Castle Mercury.


Several months since, through courtesy of
Professor John Collett, We were furnished
with q copy OF the Indiana Reports OF the
Department of Geology and Natural History
for the year 1853. This makes the thirteenth
annual report and tee foDrth, we believe by
tie present State GeolOgist.
For three years past especially, these re-
ports, in addition to detailed surveys of
several counties, have been partially de-
voted to pale0ntOlogy and other branches OF
natural history. Mr. Colletf has by the ex-
pendituTe Of q few hundred dollsrs annually,
enriched the pages of each report with most
strikiDgly accurate cuts, with carefully pre-
Jared descriptions OF each by several Of the
most distinguished naturslists of the New
World, and the whole has been done at an
outlay go small as to seem marvellous These
books have value to the studeat and scien-
fist that can not well be calculated. and at
COST which is a mere trife compared with the
expenditure of a number of the States.
Indiana is a field richer Ia the fauna and
fora Of long by gone epoch, than almost
any other portion OF the globe, and is par
ticularly interesting to the ontologist,
and from its marvellous fossil beds have gone
forth hundreds of thousands Of specimens TO
enrich the cabinets and museums Of nearly
every country on the globe.
Some knowledge of these ancient forms IS
absolutely essential in ihe study OF the rocks
OF oar State, and for the fret time the geo.
logical student 10 Indiana hads within
reach books essential to mis- equipment. All
has not been done that should be done, bnt q
grand beginning has been made. Neither
do We suppose that al that has been ad-
varced with reference to the origin and To-
CO ton q the various rocky leaves ia natures
| book il absolutely correct. Some errors may
| have crept in which later aad fuller knOWl-
edge may correct, but the progress made has
| been rapid.
TIE effort made BY the Geological Bureau
| of our State 10 spread a knowledge of the
economical geology OF the State has been
most eminently successful. and has had
more 10 do with the development of the
coal iron, cement and building stone inter
| eats of our State than slt other agencies COM
| biDed. BJ this knowledge spread abroad
for the last ten years, millions OF capital has
| been attracted here. immense manutactur-
| ing interests have sprung up, our Goals. iron
and cements are everywhere in demand,
| while our fine building stones are now used
FOR the cest buildings IN Oil the principal
! cities Of the country.
Few Indianisns even ten or fifteen years
! ago knew shat our State was one OF the CHI
est in mineral wealth OF any OF the sister
| hood Of States, and yet il IS fact. The
wealth was here, but few suspected II.
| service that has been 1.-THE OF the edF6n-
tate to our people that this same GEOLOGICAL
| department has, aud that, too, on the pitlfol
sum OF $1,000 70 - goo per year. Whlie acme
OF the other States have Dten deFoting go
| 600 to So, 0O0 annually 10 LIE purpose.
The Indiana Legislature would DO itself
great credit If II could rise to the height %
the occasion enough TO be s little more 10
eral with the Office OF State 0eologist, even
! If forced to prac tice economy in some other
| quarters.