The morning news., 1899-03-10
STATE GEOLOGICAL BUREAU.
THE Committee SAYS 1T Is OF
INESTIMABLE VALUE.

ReDort Made 10 the Governor i'm
which II Is stated That the Blu
rem Is n Good Thing and Is Prop
erIv Conducted-Other states Have
Them. and Georgia Must Keep
Up-Prof. Xeates Considered 4"
Competent Omcial.
Atlanta. Ca. March 9-The legislative
committee appointed 10 investigate the geo
logical department and report upon its
future maintainance and administration 10
the Governor handed in its report to-
day.
As already forecasted. the report fully
sustains both the department and lis pres
ent management under Prof. W 5. feates.
The committee was composed Of Senators
Winghold and Perkins and Representative
Hornby, Tatum and Adams. According to
the language Of the report, the investiga-
ton has been conducted with view to
finding out:
Does Georgia need a geological depart
rnent2
Is the department properly conducted by
the present state geologist?
I'm considering whether or not Georgia
needed a geological department sustained
by the state, we have taken the view that
The existence of such a need depended upon
the character and extent of her mineral
and other resources, developed and unde-
veloped that came under such a depart
ment It is useless 70 say as was said
before the department was established,and
has been said since, that the interests 20
be subserved are private interests and
therefore the expense should be borne by
the individual owners.
Must Keep Up with Other states.
while the objection to a geological bu-
Teau would be a controlling one if Geor-
gia had a monopoly in these things, it
loses much of its force when one discov-
ers that there are like resources in other
states, that other states sustain geologi-
cal bureaus TO advertise them and that if
Georgia has the resources and does not
adopt similar methods, she Will be neg
lected by investors in such property and
her resources of that character viii likely
be undeveloped
1T should be also borne in mind land
this idea permeates the testimony given
before the committee by experts. buyers.
sellers, business men interested in the
states material development and others,
that given state with such resources, Off
cial information is absolutely necessary TO
attract the serious attention of investors.
While some of the witnesses criticized
the conduct of the department, the great
preponderance of testimony was against
its adjustment, and it must be borne in
mind that the committee invited and gave
ample opportunity for testimony adverse
10 the retention of the department
IL Is of InestimabIe Value.
The committee, after an inspection of
The state museum and careful considera-
lion of testimony, are of the opinion that
geological department, if properly con-
dncted, is of inestimable value to Georgia.
and We beg so 10 report TO your excellency,
recommending at the same time that the
department for Georgia be continued. and
that the conditional legislative appropria-
ton for its maintenance be made avail
abe, provided the undue delay in getting
OUT the bulletins, which delay was brought
to our attention by witnesses be first cor
Tected by the Governor of the state, who
is hereby requested TO satisfy himself that
there Will be no other delay before he
authorizes its use.
Il is proper 10 say that from the testi-
mony, in the opinion of the committee Ii
would seem unjust 10 charge this delay
solely either TO the state geoogist or the
state printers, and that TO an extent both
are responsible for it; and while there is
matter that justiies the very general
and adverse public criticism which il has
received, and in which we JON and calls
for correction, yet in view of the divided
responsibility for it, we do not think il
such misconduct, if not repeated. as would
authorize the discharge of the present
state geologist
I'VE are of the opinion, from the testi-
mony, both written and oral, that the
state geologist, Prof w. S. Yeates Is
competent as a mlneralogist and geolo-
gist 10 discharge the duties of his office
and, Furthermore that he has shown ef-
fciency in the work OF collecting a state
museum, and in that embraced in the bull
letins issued"