The news & observer., 1897-02-19
OUR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
What the Engineering and Mining Journ
Thinks of dts Work.

What the Engineering and Mining Journ-
Thinks Of its Work
The following article on the North
Carolina Geological Survey has appeared
in the Engineering and Mining Journal
the highest authority on such subjects
in this country:
I'm our editorial columns last week
we referred to Il proposal made to sus-
pend the work of the North Carolina
Geological Survey and to the fact that
such step would be an injury to the
State. The following brief statement
concerning the work of the Survey GER
tainly establishes its great usefulness to
the State, and the excellent and practic-
al character of its work:
THE Geological Survey is the one
agency which the State maintains for the
exploration, development and advertise
ment of its resources. 1t has cost about
$4,000 per annum, and has been in
strumental in bringing into the State
more than $5,000000 in investments in
mineral, timber and water-power de-
velopments; and the outlook for a large
annual Increase in these investments
has never in the history of the State been
so promising as at the present time.
The survey has by timely advice pre-
vented the expenditure by citizens of the
State more than 100000 in cases where
| this money, if expended, would have
been lost. In time of agricultural de.
preston, like the present, the State, de-
string a return Of prosperity, and with
| it more money for schools and other in
stitutions, should look to the development
of its mineral and forest resources and
water-powers as a basis for manufac-
lures, mining and other diversified indus
| tries.
Reports have already been published
| Oh the following subjects: % Iron ore
| deposits, (2) building stone deposits, (3l
| timber resources and lands in the east
EN- counties, (4) road material and road
| construction, 20 corundum deposits, (6)
| monazite deposits, ~ gold deposits, ~
| forest fires Reports on the ~ water
| powers, 81 mining methods, 90 mica
mining, "a clays and clay products (5)
drinking water supplies, 90 mineral wa
| ters, 20 public improvements in North
| Carolina are now being published or
prepared for publication. and several 9TH
er reports will be ready before the end
| Of the present year. Application for
| these reports are received daily through
the Survey and other State departments.
| and from all portions Of the country.
| Elaborate maps of the mountain
counties and of a majority of the pied
mont counties are being prepared by tie
United States Geological Survey, CO.
| operating with the State Survey, without
expense 10 the State. These maps, when
| completed for publication, will show Cd
4 u
OF the county, such as roads, railroads.
towns, post-ofIices, churches, etc; ~
/ the character Of the country, such as the
! hills, vs,8egs, mountains, ETC.; % the
| character and location of the geological
| formations; (4) valuable mineral and ore
deposits and ~ water-powers.
| NO satisfactory geological examina-
| ton of the State can be made without
the use of such maps The State Survey
is examining and locating on these maps
| the valuable rocks mineral and ore de-
| posits, forests, soils and water-powers.
1t is publishing reports on these subjects,
and thus informing the citizens of this
State and other States and countries con-
| cerning the extent and value of our
resources.
| 'The men now connected with the
Survey have each been trained in their
| special work, and have become familiar
with the resources of the State. To
cripple or abandon this work at this
stage and start it again at later dat,
would necessitate the training Of new
men, and thus a loss of time and money
to the State. 1t is beyond question that
the reports of the State Survey command
the confidence of capitalists and receive
attention, and that they are of very
great service in attracting the capnA
which will build up diversified industries.
The Investigations made are also of great
service to the agricultural as well as the
mining and manufacturing interests"