The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-06-07
STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
An Insight into the Work to be
Done.

An Insight into the Work to be
Done.
In view of the importance of the sur
vey to be made of Texas in order to de-
velop its geological possibilities, the fol-
lowing is given:
An act to authorize the com missioner
OF agriculture, ins urance, statistics and
history to have geological and mineral
ogical survey made of the state of Texas
and to make an appropriation thereof:
Section BE it enacted by the legisla-
ture of the state of Texas: That it shall
be the duty of the commissioner of agri-
culture, insurance statistics and history to
have geological and neurological sur
vey made of the state of Texas, and for
that purpose he shall employ such
number of competent persons skilled in
the science of geology and mineralogy as
shall be necessary to properly and expe-
ditiously execute said work. The persons
so employed shall be under the super
vision and control of the said commits
sioner, and shall receive such compensa-
ton as the commissioner may direct, not
to exceed $4,000 per year. The commis-
sloner shall provide all neces sary chemi-
cal apparatus, books, maps and stationery
to carry out the provisions of this act,
and may employ such additional clerks as
shall be requisite to a proper execution
of this act, which clerks shall receive such
compensation as he may deem proper,
not to exceed 5000 each per year.
Section 2-The commissioner shall eau e
to be made assays, analyses or other sci
entific examination of all beds or deposits
of ores, Goals, clays, marls and other min
eral substances situated in this state, as
shall be requisite to correct knowledge
of the extent and value thereof. He shall
also in all proper cases upon application
require like examinations, assays or anal
ysts to be made Of deposits, mines and
lands situated in the state, and shall fur
nish proper certificate of the result of
said examination, assay or analysis. Ee
shall also, upon request of any person, re-
quire assays or analyses to be made of
any specimen of soil or mineral deposit in
this state, and shall also furnish to the
party requesting it a certificate thereof.
Provided that in all cases when assays or
analyses are made upon request of any
person the party making the request
shall be required by the commissioner to
make affidavit that the specimen offered
was found upon the land of the party
making the request, or that said request
is made at the instance or with the full
knowledge and consent of the owner of
the land upon which said specimen was
found.
Section 3-The commissioner shall pre-.
serve record of this department at his
office, and the information therein COL
lected and preserved shall be reported 10
the governor as in case of all other mat
tiers relating to his Office. He shall also
report to the governor before each ses-
sion of succeeding legislatures for infor-
nation of the governor and such legisla-
lures, ali moneys expended under this act,
and how and for what purpose such
money was expended. He shall also re-
port the amounts of money received from
persons, corporations or syndicates for
such services rendered, specifying the
amount so received. He shall also pre-
serve specimens of minerals, Goals, stones
and other natural substances useful in
agriculture, manufacturing or the me-
chanical arts, and shall from time to time,
as far as practicable, add specimens of
organic remains and other objects of
natural history peculiar to the state.
Section 4-Tne commissioner shall
prescribe a schedule of reasonable fees to
be charged and collected from all persons
having scientific examinations, assays or
chemical analyses made and for certifi-
Gates furnished under this act, which fees
shall, when collected, be paid into the
state treasury to the credit of the gen
eral revenue fund.
Section Sit shall be unlawful for the
commissioner of agr culture, insurance,
statistics and history, or any person en-
ployed by him or connected with his
Office to purchase all or any part of any
mine or mineral lands, or to be in any
manner interested in such purchase dur
ing the term of his office or employment.
Any person violating the provisions of
this section shall be punished by fine not
less than $1,000 and shall be removed
from his office or employment as the case
may be.
Section 6.-That the sum of SIS, 900, or
so much thereof as may be necessary, be
and the same is hereby appropriated out
of any moneys in the state treasury not
otherwise appropriated for the purpose Of
carrying out the provisions of this act,
provided that no expense in excess of the
amount hereby appropriated shall be in
Cured under the provisions of this act.
Section 1.-THE great necessity for gath
ering and collecting useful and valuable
information concerning the mineral and
other natural resources of the state and
the present lack of means to ascertain the
same creates an imperative public necessi-
ty and an emergency exists requiring that
the constitutional rule which requires bills
to be read on three several days in each
house be suspended and said rule is so
suspended and it is enacted that this act
take effect and be in force from and after
its passage.
Approved May ~, 1888.
speaking of Christmas presents" said
! Mrs BleaCher White. to q com nanY of her