The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-09-15
NEARLY coMPIETED.

The state geological commission held
short session In this city yesterday
morning, at the law office of Governor
Atkinson. This commission which con-
sIsts Of the governor State Treasurer
Kendall, the president Of the state unl-
ysrsIty DIR. Raymond; the director OF
the agricultural experiment station,
Mr.. stewart, and the president of the
state board of agriculture, Hon. $. w.
Atkinson, Of Potomac, is required by
the act establishing the survey to hold
two meetings annually.
This is the first meeting for 1898, and
was called for the transaction OF rou-
tine business that required only quor-
um Of the board, which was present IN
the persons OF Governor Atkinson, Dr..
Raymond and Hon. s. w. Atkinson.
The state geologlst, DR.. I. c. White, OF
MorRantown, was also here and made
verbal report OF the operations OF the
survey during the present year. Among
other things OF interest he reported that
by the authority OF the commission CIV
en- at its meeting In December. 1897, ne
had executed contract With tue direc-
tor OF the United States geological sur
vey, under which the latter organiza-
ton had undertaken to locate and marx
with stone monuments and metal taD-
lets, the true merldians In every one OF
the .ifty-five counties OF the state. The
act establishing the geological survey OF
West Virginia required that these me-
ridlans should be determined and prop.
erly marked by monuments, as one OK
the FIRST things to be done. since great
confusion has arisen in the land lines
run by the different county surveyors
owing to the inability OF each TO deter
mine the true variation OF the magnetic
compass in his own particular region,
Now these stone monuments set up by
the survey In or near each county seat
will enable every county surveyor to
mark on the variation OF his compass ut
any time, simply by setting up his In
strument over one monument and
sighting It to the other one, usually dis
tant 800 to 600 feet.
These true meridians, or exact north
and south lines, can only be determined
by observations upon the pole star, and
hence require high order Of skill and
most careful work in planting and
marking the stone monuments, and II
would have nearly exhausted the linz
tied funds Of the survey $1,000 per an
mum for all purposes. including publicas
tion), had not DR.. White been able TO
enlist the good offices OF the United
States Geological survey, which has
agreed to complete the entire work for
the small sum of $500. This work has
already been finished in about half OF
the counties OF the state. and VIII be
completed in all before the close OF 1895
The state Eeologist also reported that
the new map of the state In preparation
by the survey, is nearly ready for the
engraver. and will soon be published:
Also that he has the data well In hand
for reports upon the coal and petroleum
fields OF the state, and that these will
be published as soon as funds are pro-
vided, IL the present appropriations are
found insufficient.
The, commission adjourned Mt 1880,
having completed Its business, and will
probably hold It's next meeting In
Charleston some time in December,
when its detailed report to the legisla-
ture VIM be formulated. The survey has
been so cramped for funds this year.
that but little more than a beginning
could be made. but II the legislature
will give the necessary appropriations
next year, full corps OF engineers and
biologists will he put in the field and
the work OF studying and mapping the
states geological formations. pushed to
completion as rapidly as is consistent
with accuracy,