Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-10-05
AZ" SEascik az s:,s. a. =. e:cassu5c,s
NWrLNE iIs III" Eir.iwia4

'a'ss~ sE0csk ss:' s:sr a. =. e:ca;oy5y,s
Survey im ia" yirSin;ae.
The initial work ot tie Geoiogical survey
i'll various portions uf tHc >,u,in'Ty j. topu
graphic since 5 has been f3uGti thut geologic
investigations cannot be property presented
nnti LII" Grc'ogi:'., a!e surpjie with topo-
grs;'f." mans upon waicl thc rusuhs Of
thcir invest !gatirns may DC n,ijcatcG Ac.
| cordIngtg, topographic surveys have been
pushed forward rapidly in different portions
0: Virginia and West Virginia, the nie@a
being determined chiefly by the require
! Incnts Of the ge0logists already at work or
| abou; lo iuaugurate work within these
States.
Since the work Of the survey is conducted
independently OF State boundaries, the same
parties frequently surveying tracts located
partly in one State and partly in another, 3
general idea OF the extent Of the operations
OF tho Geological! Survey in the Virginias
| may best be conveyed by g statement OF tha
| work already accomplished by the Southern
Appalachian division Of geography which is
| as follows : Alabama, G0l3 square miles :;
Georgia, 3S22 Kentucky, $50; Maryland,
2l55 North Carolina. G5S0 South Caro-.
lima, COO; Tenne:se, 11515: West Virginia,
1000 Virginia, 101S0 District Of Co!um-
5ia, Is. Total 56335O.
Nearly all the surveys il the Appaiach.
| region included in the foregoing table
have already been mapped; but ONLY few
Of these maps are thus Ear engraved. There
are seven lines of investigation already uu-
der way in the Old Dominion and her Wig
| orous namesake.
First. The Appaiachian division Of geoo.
gy, in charge Of Mr.. c. Il. Gilbert, il en-
| gagged III l. detailed examination Of the
structural relations Of the rocks OF the Ap-
paiachlan mountain region. There are Ave
different parties 1T work respectively, (l) III
Alabama, (2) in eastern Tennessee and Ala.
| bama, t3l along the Potomac in Virginia
and Maryland, az in central New York and
(5) in the coal regions of central West Viz
gina. The third Of these parties in charge
| Of Mr.. II. L. Geger has heen employei for
two or three years in lnravcIing the ex-
ceedingly complex structure q the Blue
Ridge and neighhoring graniiic rnnges, and
OF the eastern ranges Of the asstornlnGsl
ranges of lie Allegheny aiatom proper. Il
Is hoped thgL the re:uita cf these invcS,iga-
tlons Will afford s key to tio gsn"cs! geolug-
lc structure Q! his portion OF the country
Ihe fifth party IL conducted hy Prof. l. g.
White, OF the University Of West Virginia,
who. before his connection with the Geolog-
ical Survey had collected much information
relating to the coal seama, iron ores, cement
| beds acd strata yielding natural gas and
| petroleum., not only in West Virginia, but
in contiguous pcriious OF PENNSYLVANIA, X en-
| tucky and Ohio.
Second. There il Il division OF the suryey
in charge Of Prof. n s. Shaler, formerly Of
Harvard College which mas charge of the
| Investigations CT tte tidal marshes of the
United States, with a view to their reclama.
ton This investigation has already OK.
tended to portions of Virginia, notably in
the vicinity Of the great Dismal Swamp.
Work in this direction has also beer recently
inauguratad, but final reports thereon have
Eot yet been prepared.
Third During the present season investi-
CATION of the Southern extension Of the
greensand deposits, and other sources of
natura! fertilizers that have added so ma.
terially to the wealth OF New JERSEY and
Delaware was commenced This work is
III charge CT Prof Ira Savies His present
field CT labor lies in the vicinity Of the
James river from Richmond 10 its mouth.
The Importance TO the people Of Richmond
OF the inexhaustblo deposits Of natural
fertilizers which occur at various depths
everywhere east Of line passing
through Alexandria,, Fredericksburg, and
Richmond has never been fully apprec.
atea. There is no unfertile acre in the east
ern bali Of Virginia that cannot be rendered
as productive as the richest bottom lands of
Arkansas and Mississippi. or as the Blue
Grass region of Kentucky BY intelligent use
Of the natural fertilizers growing within the
State. AS s. source Of permanent wealth
the sreensands of Virginia fall little short
Of tho coal OF Pennsy lvania, the gold Of Cal
itornia and the silver Eof Nevada and the
development Of these great resources must
add much to tbs prosperity Of noble Slate.
Fourth. \ general study of the geologic
structure OF the District Of Columbia and
contiguous portions Of Maryland ard Viz
giuia was commenced q few years ago By
MIR. ". J. Mcaee. oftbe survey His studie=
have already carried him ever considerable
portions Of eastern Virginia and have added
much to previous knowledge Of this portion
! Gt Tho ~ ota md Opa pf tbl