Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-09-08
aEsa7lgNs ] ! 81!
rae Use oF PALeoNToLoeY.


A Branch Of Science About which Com
psrativeIy Little Is Known.
"What is the use Of paleonto1ogyY'
The question has been asked in congress
by representatives, who freely expressed
the opinion that this branch of science
was of no value whatever. Regarding
1t from this point Of view, they proposed
to give no money to it in the appropria-
ton for the geological survey. In order
to get word or two on the other side
Of the question, q writer asked Major j.
w. Powell to explain what paleontology
was good for.
"To begin WITH" said he, "all the sed-
imentary rocks of the world are charac-
terized by certain fossils of animals and
plants which they contain. The rocks
are classified by their fossils, which in
dicate the age Of the formation in each
case and the age at which it was laid
down. Thus the study of the rocks is
the study of the fossils in them, and we
call that study 'paleontology.' By it's
aid we learn the history Of this earth on
which we live-the details Of its build
ing and the story of the development of
life upon it.
"Paleontology is the basis of geolog-
ical science. 1t has elevated mining
from mere guesswork TO the status of
exact knowledge. All the work Of the
mining engineers of the world depends
upon it. The most valuable minerals
are sought for and discovered by the
study OF the rock formations, which can
only be traced by their fossils. All the
coal in the United States is mined by
such means. Many beds of iron are ir
like manner related to the sediinentary
rocks. All the lead Of Iowa and Mis-
souri, and the silver Of Colorado are OBJ
tanned from rocks whose bearing veins
and lodes are traced by the fossils they
contain. Thus You will perceive that
In great measure the riches Of the earth
are derived from and civilization de-
pends upon paleontology.
"Paleontology is recognized as the
basis of all the geological surveys of
Europe and Asia. Next after paleontol-
ogy in point Of Importance comes the
study of the chemistry Of rocks, aud
after chemistry 'lithology'--that is, w.
study of the crystals of rocks--is to be
considered. Incidentally an interesting
and valuable contribution to science is
afforded by studying the animals and
plants whose remains are found pre-
served in the rocks. They tell the story
OF the life history Of the world. How.
ever, that Is only matter Of secondary
Importance. Let me add that every
state geological survey thus far made,
as well as every geological survey OK
ecuted by the United States, has been
based on paleontology.'
"a secondary end of paleontology is
the elucidation OF the past history OF
life upon the earth," said Professor W.
j. McGee. "The applications and uses ct
the knowledge thus acquired are many
and varied, and yet they pertain chiefly
to pure science, which is now, as it ever
has been, the foundation for the future
1t is the knowledge of today that enables
men not only to predict but to coutrol
the events Of tomorrow. The simple ex-
periments and speculations Of Watt
produced the steam locomotive of later
the electrical toys of u Msrse
and Henry yielded the telegraph, the
telephone and the electric motor.
"Thus far the cultivation of paleon
tology as u pure science has not yielded
its fullest fruit except in Its application
m the basis for the classification Of the
rocks of the earth, but there are not
wanting conservative students who hold
that the study Of the course of life IN
the past will indicate the safest direction
for future guidance, with respect not
only to domestic animals and plants
yielding food supplies, but even for man
himself. .'--Washington Star.