The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-11-10

same," and shall annually make as
full report as possible OF the oondi-
ton and business of the mineral in
dustries of the State during the pre-
vious year" This official has been
practically sinecure and the official
n name. The work the geologist"
has done has consisted principally in
occasional visits to the State cabinet,
where with great diligence he has re-
arranged the specimens there kept,
written few new labels and given
out to the reporters an account of the
important labor he was performing
for the State. The work he has done
was the task of any old fossil, with
the aid of good geology.
The fact is that the office has been
of no practical value TO Vermont.
The incidental duties OF curator If
the cabinet" seem to have become it's
principal duties as the Office is admin
istered Instances exist in which in
dividuals have called upon the State
geoloigst for information as to the
practical worth of mineral deposits
which he was asked to examine and
test, bpt in those instances we fail to
call to mind one in which any infor-
nation of really practical value was
obtained, The State geologist has
been able to correctly classify the
mineral referred to, and could un.
doubtedly label specimens taken there
from and suitably place them on ex-
hibition in the State cabinet, but as
to whether certain stone would be ad
apted to monumental or building
work, whether it would or would not
be ipjuriously affected by the weather.
or by fire or water--in short as to its
practical value for any desired use,
the information has been lacking.
information with regard to them has
been obtained from some other source
than the STATE geologist. Two or
three years ago in a report that pur-
ported to enumerate all of the miner
al deposits of the State of any possible
value, the extensive deposits of gran
iticmarble in Washington, which
have been quarried to some extent in
half dozen or more places, were not
even mentioned The presumption is
that the State geologist had not heard
of them.
This State needs geological sur
vey. 1t needs geologist who shall
be an expert on all questions concern.
ing mines and quarries, to make a
careful and intelligent examination of
every deposit of minerals or metals
within its borders and make such a
report rs shall be available and ade-
quately informing for the use Of pros
pective investors. With the location,
extent, nature, and practical value of
| Vermont's mineral wealth intellegi-
bly, published and arranged the State
and its citizens would have some basis
to pi ooeed upon in utilizing its dor
mant resources.
Be it asbestos or lead, marble or
mica, granite or copper, information
| that would lead to its becoming a new
product would be of great value not
| alone to the community of its location
but to the State at large also. The
initial expense would soon be repaid
| many fold in increased valuations.
There are undoubtedly quarry and
mine industries in the State waiting
only for some attention which will
throw lp' upon their locality and
value TO become of Importance. A
proper geological survey, by an ex-
pert. ouaht to bring to light these
hidden an unknown mines and quar-
ries, and wou d give them such offici-
al recognition rs must inevitably turn
capital their way.
This is a matter the Legislature
should consider and take action upon.
The Governor should consider it as
we'll when he makes his appointment
of State geologist 1t is probable
that, under the present statute, the
Governor is authorized to call upon
the geologist for some service at the
expense of the State, along the lines
of a geological survey, but he would
don btless feel that he had no right TO
carry the matter tn the extent the
Journal is contemplating, He can.
however, appoint competent man,
whether or not the Legislature changes
the law relative to the subject.