The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-02-26
STATE GEOLOGIsT FILES REPORT.
What is Being Done by This I'm
portant Officer.

State Geologist Sloan has filed the
following, his first annual report,
with the governor; it contains in
formation of general interest to the
people of the State:
Sir: [ have the honor Of submitting
the following report relating to the
work accomplished by the State geolo-
gist since May l, 1901:
Upon my appointment to the Office
of the State geologist. promptly
qualified, and entered upon the duties
prescribed by the act which
created this junction. In order to
more effectually accomplish the pur
poses of this act I proceeded to estab-
lish such relations with the United
States geological survey as might tend
to secure its corporations and ensure
the privileges Of current consultation
with the expert specialists Of its ,seve-
raj subdivisions. By reason Of the
absence OF even nucleus Of collec-
tion of the ~Jnomic minerals and
mineral pre- Or cts of this State ! devot-
ed rnvself Il, securing such character
istic colIec. - as might best display
minerals ana ,lructural and monu-
mental stones "a the South Carolina
Interstate and West Indian Exposl-
ton. This work consumed much time
and e2acted my presence successlvely
at the more important mineral zones
of the State, and afforded much oppor-
tunities for general observations and
snecific information as will constitute
q substantial basis for systematic
work, to follow, and enable me to com
plete preliminary report on the dis
tribution of the economic minerals
of the State, which should be estab-
lished as bulletin to satisfy many
inquiries for such information.
[ have in the course of preparation
and completion the necessary matter
for a bulletin on the artesian waters
of the State, designed to afford sugges-
tions as to the depths at which the
water bearing seams should be expect
ed, and information as to the nature
of their respective waters.
7 have devoted as much time as has
been available to the investigation OF
the kaolin formations and to the study
of the clay beds of this State, on the
products of which are founded some OF
the most substantial industries, yield
inc nearly one million dollars annual
". and susceptible of considerable ex-
tension-for no State is more richly
endowed in such formation.
Nv immediate attention is being
directed to a systematic study and ex-
nloitation Of the marine and land
phosphate deposits OF the State with
view to approximately determining
their respective outlines and quanti-
ties and establish basis for the sys-
tematic mining of the marine Tor
river deposits.
I have responded TO many requests
for expert opinions in both geology
and technology, and to numerous de-
mands from the citizens OF otner
States for information relating to the
minerals and to the industries OF
South Carolina. Whereas the current
demand on my correspondence is con-
siderable it is necessarily subject to
irregularities of attention during the
period of my field work. :.
The act under which the Office of
State geologist was created provided
among duties the making Of "cheml-
cal analyses OF the useful minerals
and products Of the various Iorma-
tions of the State without having
included any provision for the estaD.
fishing, conduct and maintenance OF
the necessary laboratory. The chem
ical department at the Clemson Agrl-
cultural and Mechanical college had
prior to the passage Of this act made
such analysis OF the useful minerals
of the State as were sent by indlvidu-
ais in desultory way.
The geologist act therefore elimlnat-
ed this work from Clemson college
without having provided means for It's
continuance under the State geoioglst.
[ should therefore urge that the gene
raj assembly provide as an assistant
to the State geologist a chemist to
continuously and exclusively perform
such work as the State geologlst
might intrust and at such place as
might be deemed and designed as
most expedient.
The cost of the services of COM
petent assistant as predicated on the
practice of the geological departments
of Georgia and of North Carolina
would amount to 81, 200 per year.
should be pleased to extend to. the
State the gratuitous use of my private
equipment of scientific laboratory in
struments at Charleston. 1t would be
REQUIRED that the State should supply
such apparatus as is subject to cur
rent destruction which would not ex-
ceed the cost of $500 and the necessary
portable furnaces for the fire assay OF
metals, and for a set Of furnaces for
practically testing the clays Of this
State with reference 20 their adapt
ability to the manufacture respective
" of porcelain, fire proof PARTICLES,
paper stock, tiling, bricks, etc.
There is no line Of investigation
more pregnant with the promise of
profitable aid to the development OF
the States industries than is tc be
found in connection with the kaolin
and clay deposits for nearly every
county possesses values in one or both
Of these materials, and do not know
&c bo oy;ctanca in thiS State of anv