Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-03-23
HEARTILY ENDORSED.
Wetze1 Democrat Approves
State Geological Survey.

State Geological Survey.
II Says that the Legislation in Regard
to that improvement was the Most
Important Passed by the Late Legis-
lafnre- Benefits to be Derived from
the Survey.
No single measure passed by the
last Legislature will confer greater
benefits on our people than the act
providing for the geological survey of
the State says the Wetzel Democrat,
Few people realize Its Importance or
appreciate its far reaching scope We
have not the act at hand, and do not
know It's exact wording, or the
amount appropriated for the purpose,
but we understand the appropriation
is liberal, aud that the work will be
under the supervision of DR.. /. @.
White, the State Geologist. This
means that the work will be We'll
done, ahd that the labors Of the COM
mission appointedfor the purpose will
result in an exposition of the resources
Of the State such as we never saw be-
fore.
No State in the Union could profit
SO much as West Virginia by such a
measure. We have an abiding faith
that the day will come when West
Virginia will be recognized as the
greatest OF all the states. Her hills
will be barrowed by millions of miners
and her productive soil will be titled
by millions of prosperous farmers.
Cities will grow and increase in NUM-
Der aud towns will spring up. The
hum Of machinery will be heard in
every locality. Railroads will pene.
,trate all Of our green valleys, and
their capacity will be taxed to the
utmost TO convey the material wealth
which we sell the world. This con
summation, deyoutly to be wished,
will be accomplished by just such
measures as the contemplated geolog-
zeal survey
The work OF the commission will be
devoted, first, TO the preparation of a
complete and accurate topographic
map of the State without which any
future work in the line of a geological
survey would be practically impossi-
BILE In this the State commission
will be assisted by the Federal author
tiles, who will also defray material
portion Of the expenses.
The material benefits which our
people Will derive from the measure
will accrue from the reports issued by
the commissions as the work pro-
crosses. These reports will inform
the world Of the extent of the materi-
al resources of our State, and they will
invite the Investment of capital for
their development.
The commission will examine the
geological formation of the State with
especial reference TO their economic
products. If there is building stone,
or valuable clays or ores-and we
know our State abounds with such
mineral wealth-this commission will
find them and inform US of their loca-
tion and how they are most easily ac-
cessible. 1t will accurately define all
the coal areas in the State. 1t will
tell the farmer if his land is under
laid with coal, and. if SO, how far it
is below the surface and how much
there is of it. 1t will investigate and
report as to the character OF the soil
of the State and its adaptability for
special crops in the different localities.
1t will report the extent of our forests
and the amount Of timber we have for
sale.
The petroleum industry will be
studied by the commission and the
result OF its Investigations made
known to the public. Natural gas
fields will be more accurately defined
and methods suggested for the proven
tioE of the enormous waste Of that
valuable fuel which daily amounts to
millions of cubic feet.
1t is a noble task which the Geolog
ical Commission has before it, and it
is to be hoped that in its labors il will
receive encouragement and sympa-
thetic assistance from all citizens of
the State