The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-02-13
PSYCHOLOGICAL SURVEY
Organizing the State Mu-
Seum-Maps to Aid
Agriculture.
Special to he Jersev citv N.,o,.


New Jersey viii have museum in which
win be shown a representative collection
of the wealth Of mineral ores. soils and
other geological products found within
her borders, together with as full col
lection as may be obtained OF the botani.
cal and geological fossils OF the various
ages. 1t has been decided that the mu-
scum shall occupy the wing Of the Capt.
tol, which has. until recently, been occu-
pied by the State Library. But first some
changes are necessary. The walls are to
be run up about twenty feet. in order 10
raise the building 70 three stories. Then
the lower floor, the main floor OF the old
library, will be converted into Offices, and
the large room. including the entire
present li6rary, VIII be occupied Sy
the officers Of the State Geological Survey
and the State Museum White these plaus
have been adopted by the State House
Commission and the officers of the Survey,
nothing has yet been done toward the al
terations. owing to the fact that the care
OF the State House has been partly under
the direction Of the State House Com
mission and partly unGer Superintendent
Ford. There is a prospect that work will
soon be begun, however, since at a recent
meeting Of the Commission a resolution
Ford was authorized to make necessary
repairs about the entire State House
THE OLD MUSEUM.
The old museum with large number
Of specimens was destroyed by fire.
Fortunately the most valuable exhibits
had been sent by the State TO the New
Orleans Exposition and were therefore
saved. When they returned they were
stored in the Arsenal and have now been
unpacked In the cellars of the State
House, preparatory to their being placed
In their permanent location In the mus
cum when ready.
In an interview with Prof. ]. c. Smock,
State Geologist yesterday. it was learned
that he had examined the remaining spec-
linens. and though many minerals were
destroyed or the labels lost in the fire. vet
there is but little OF the collection that
may not be replaced in time. The most
valuable of the collection which was de-
stroyed We're the specimens OF woods
found in New Jersey, collected at consid-
able expense for the Centennial Exhibi-
tion,
Professor Smock states that an interest
ing feature Of the new collection will be
specimens of iron ore which he has caused
to be collected from every mine OF the
State, and also from many others There
viii also be numerous exhibits of Soils
clays, marls, sand. minerals and ores
from every district. He also believes that
pottery as made from the clays and soils
would be an attractive feature. This
would give an opportunity of obtaining
permanent exhibit OF the wonderful pro-
gress made by Trenton poLters, and one
which would meet a long-felt needin this
city of fine pottery manufacture.
A new geological survey has been COM
nenc ed recently, and State Geologlst
Smock and his three assistants are busily
engaged in the work in which it entails.
The survey was commenced in Cape May
county where the engineers are now at
work. 1t is expected that the survey
shall be completed in Ave years time, and
the State allows 5000 per year for the
expenses. In the Northern part of the
State some assistance VIII be received
from the United States Government
Survey.
MAPS FROM THE FIRST SURVEY.
AS the result OF the last survey ia New
Jersey maps were constructed which
show the construction OF the various
regions, as they are found underneath the
surface, and are Of great value TO geOlo-
gists and miners. These constitute a
complete atlas of the State. But it is
thought that map should now be con-
structed which would show the region
as it is on the outside, whether it be clay,
sand, mud, marl, soil or rock. Such a
map would be OF great value 10 agricul-
turists, aud the State Geologist states that
sets of maps will be issued by the State.
one set showing the formations. similar
to the last series issued. and another
set which will show just what the
surface is in every part of New
Jersey. As already stated, the work has
been commenced in South Jersey, where
large portion OF land is considered al
most a desert and known as the "Pine
Barrens." There has been a great dea
said aud published recentls." said Mr..
Slnock. about these pine barrens being
made to blossom as the rose, and / think
may have been misleading TO some peo-
pie. About Nineland and Hammouton
wond erful results have been obtained by
the improved system of farming, and
there are many sections of South Jersey
which will, under similar circumstances,
pr oduce similar results, but the lands
must be 1udiciously selected. Not all
Will respond with profitable results to the
griculturist. A few years ago these
lands which today will yield good crops
W ere considered barren. What has made
the change? Agriculture mas advanced,
and the soil has come 10 be
considered merely as medium
for attaining results. This sandy
soil, bY being scientifically enriched BY
fertilizers and other elements which it
lacks, will yield in many cases abun-
dainty. There has been a great change
in the methods OF farming IN Southern
New Jersey WITHIN rev years In the
mari district farmers who nave mari pits
on their own lands now use the com
mereial fertilizers They can buy these
for less money than the cost OF labor 10
getting out the mari and the result is
much quicker in the crop. One series of
maps OF this district of the State Will
show the composition of the surface,
while the geological map now shows the
formation below the surface with the
pine and OAK growing districts only"
The annual report of the State Geolo-
glst will be sent 10 the printer in a few
Gays. In the report there will be interest
Ing articles by Prof. Smock dealing with
the results of artesian wells in South Jer-
sey, the iron mines, zinc production and
other topics, besides the usual number Of
statistics.