The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-01-27
IMPORTANT MATTER.
Let Our People Read and Take Heed

Washington, D. c., January Is. 1897.
Editor Press and Banne part OF the
work In which the Geological Bureau of the
general Government is engaged Is the prepara-
ton OF Geologic Atlas or the United States.
This Atlas consists OF Topographic and Geolo-
ic maps accompanied with proper descFlp-
tive and explanatory textual matter.
Under theplan OF operation, the area OF Inc
entire country is divided, according TO merid.
ians and parallels, into small rectangular
districts, generally about % by 81 miles in eX.
tent, and these sections or districts are wCrk-
ed up first geographically ana Afterwards
geoogically. When the proper information
concerning one OF these sections Is thus OBJ
tained a folio of The Atlas is issued embracing
that particular section or rectangular district.
This work Is designed ultimately TO cover the
entire country; but as yet only a very small
part of it has been accomplished: Only about
500 of the several thousand small rectangular
districts into which the country is conceived
to be divided. have been wor ked up topograph-
Ically; and 1t Is not until the geological for
nation, or structural character, OF section
have been ascertained that the Government t
is ready 10 embody the results In folio OF
the Atlas.
None of this geologic work has yet been
done In South Carolina. Other parts OF the
country, with mineral or coal resources TO ex-
ploit, have generally been more urgent In
seek ing to have the geologic qualities OF their
section ascertained and officially set forth by
The topographic survey, however, as al.
ready made, embraces small portion OF
South Carolina over IN our part OF the State.
which is shown on what is designated as the
"Abbeville Sheet" embraces section In
which Hodges is about the centre, 1t extends
towards the savannah to about three miles ;
houn's Mills: In the Northwest part IT runs
up slightly into Anderson County where II
takes In Craytonsville and Honea Path
G. H. thence South, passing TO the East OF
Ninety Six and Old Cam bridge and extending
! little way into EdretIeld County. The
miles to the South of Millway, Hunters and
! Calhoun's Mills. The area of the section
which is shown on the "McCormick Sheet
takes In the Southern part of Abbeville
County, the part below Wilmington and Troy,
but that section or the survey lies as much
within Georgia as 1t does within South Caro-.
| lima. The extreme Western part of the
County Is embraced in the section which is
shown on the "Elberton sheet'. The sec
tions according to which these surveys are
made, as will thus be seen, are laid out with.
out regard to State, County or Township
lines.
A few days ago spoke with the Director. OF
the Survey with view to ascertainng the
possibility Of getting the "Abbeville Section II
worked up geologically. In the course of the
all in that line had beee done within the
State. To my surprise he said that was the
only man, with one exception, from South
| Carolina, who had ever spoken with him on
| the subject, and the other man had only writ
ten with view to having some rocks analyz
ed The Director seemed favorable TO the eX
animation OF the section and mentioned the
name Of the man whom he thought M ost suit
able to be assigned for work in that locality.
| The appropriation for that sort OF work Is
only 100000 year, and there are only about
| ID geoogiSts connected with the service who
take the field for such work. 1t will thus be
seen that the office IL able 10 comply with
very few of the requests for work which are
made from all parts OF the country but. stlll
in the discharge of It's public and official du
wishes OF the various localities, adhering O
course In the main to the general and con ect
plan according to which lis work must be pro-
secuted. The fact, however, that other parts
Of the country have been more importunate
and that South Carolina has asked othing In
this rpgaId, may in large part account for the
absence OF such work in the State.
Any person who feels an interest In the
working up Of the "Abhevlle Section, and
especially any person who wishes TO call at.
tention to features or objects OF geologic In
terest to be met with In that section. might
address a letter on the subject to Mr.. A. G
Latimer. Such letter would doubtless helL
TO attract the attention Of the office TO thai
section, and it Is generally best for matters o
this kind to be submitted through the loca
Representative In Congress.
l am hopeful that the Abbeville section
(Which embraces the prospective county o
GreenW ood) will be on The list OF section:
which are next designated by the Director fol
geologic work.
lam very truly yours,
]. Atheus Johnson.
( P.S.-It is not to be understood, from the re
mark above reported about analyZing rocks
that the Geological Office is at liberty. to ex
famine stones for any perso who makes th'