Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-17
IT WAS A BLUNDER.
MAKING A POLITICAL MACHINE OF
THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
THE PEOPLE ARE INDIGNANT.
OBJECT TO HAVING so IMPORTANT
DEPARTMENT. RUINED.
New state GeOlogiSt Learned His
Trade HerdinE COrvicts at the
Penitentiary Dis placed
Man of National High
Standing.
THE PEOPLE ARE INDIGNANT

Jefferson City. Mo- July is.-CSpecial.)
The Stephens combine is beginning 10 real
ize that il made a serious blunder In pros
tituting the geological survey td strengthen
its machine. A howl Of Indignation Is going
up from all parts of the state. and nartic-
ularly from the coal mining regions The
survey had been on a high plane previous
to'the removal of DR.. Charles r. keyes as
Eeologist in charge. and the substitution
for a noted scientist of J. a. Catcher.
whose qualifications for the position are
about equally divided between the two
facts that he was once guard at the peni-
tentiary and that he had been coal miner.
DR.. Keyes had been director Of the survey
for three years, and had previously been
connected with II under Arthur WlnsloWs
who was director from the organization OF
the department until the selection of Dr.
Keyes Keyes is a scientific geOloSist and
metallUrgist Of high standing. His reports
are accepted as standard by all the educa-
tional institutions in the country, and are
unquestioned by capitalists and investors.
They have been the result of bringing
great deal of capital into the state for the
development of its mineral resources.
DR.. keyes has worked for three years on
a coal report of the state, which he would
have completed within the next three
months; This fact was known 20 , the
ernor, who wanted TO make place for a
henchman, he was deposed, and this work
of at least $4,000, and the reputation OF
the present head Of the survey is such that
it will not then be accepted as standard
The resignation Of Professor Shepherd.
the only member of the board who is rec
ogniZed as knowing anything about geol-
ogy, and his statement as a reason for re-
turing, that he had reputation as a geol-
ogist which he would not sacrihce by re-
naming a member of such a board as the
present, and be held in any measure re-
sponsible for such a department. 8 MIS-
souri, will have under the direction of the
ex-guard at the penitentiary. awakened the
administration TO the fact that the re are
some departments of the state government
which cannot be safely converted into a
personal machine, and the criticisms passed
In every quarter during the past few days
have been decidedly displeaslng to his ex-
The new board in charge of the geological
survey is composed of men with pohtlcaI
pull. George Washington BOnapaITe Gar
rett, of Lamar. was the driver Of sprink-
ing cart, in which occupation he ascquired
l knowledge of rocks sufficient 10 enable
sim 10 pass judgment on the work of the
Eeological survey o. A. Crandall, of Sc
bslia- IS a retired lawyer. whose hobby is
mail shells, which he investigates now
lver, from a geological or biological rather
han a geological standpoint. The third
rho has been admitted to practice medi-
dne. The resignation of Professor Shep-
Ierd leaves a vacancy in the hoard. The
governor Is the fifth member
The old board was composed OF Professor
Shepherd who for more than twenty years
tHS Deen DlOIeSSOT Ol BeOlO6g III OlhAS vi
ege: DR.. ]. II. Britts. OF Clinton who has
! national reputation a geolo gist. hav-
ng made some of the most important dIs-
'oYeries made in this state; Prof essor W.
l. Seamon. professor OF geology ssnd met
liturgy in the school of mines az Rolla,
md Hon. w. o. l.. Jewett, Of Sslelbina-
Vho. while not a professional geoloSist,
las made a considerable study OF the sub
cot.
The cause" for the removal of DR.. Eeyes
s Feologist in charge was that he Issued
90 many reports. DR. keyes had habit
I issuing useful reports from time to time
nd his action in this matter had the ap-
royal of the board, on which there were
hree geologists-
Dr. Charles r. Keyes was in Kansas
-ity yesterday. but declined to discuss for
publication the action Of the state geo
ogical board I'm deposing him as director
II charge OF the geological survey. He ad-
alitted however that he felt he had not
oeen fairly dealt with. and that the cause
assigned for his removal was frivolous
lie would not be interviewed on the quail
.fications Of his successor for the position.