Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-09-20
VERMONT GEOLOGY.
The First Survey OF Che Green Moun-
tnin state and Those who Made II.

states National Museum contains an
article on the first geological survey
OF Vermont together with sketches
and portraits of Charles Baker Adams,
hrst state geologist, and his assistant,
Iadoc Thompson, which will be Of
general interest to Ncrmonters. Tho
article is embodied in contributions
to the History of American Geology"
by George r. Merrill of the Smith
sonian Institution and the greater
part of it is given herewith:
cor all tho New England states
Vermont was the last to become in
fected with n desire for n geological
survey. and it was not until 1874 that
the final steps were taken resulting
In the appointment of Prof. c. B.
Adams as state geologist. Adams was
educated at Phillips Academy and
Amherst College, and subsequently at
tended the logical seminary at the
last named place. In 1896 he became
a tutor at Amherst and for brief
period was assistant to Professor
Hitchcock in his work on geological
survey of New York. when appoint
ed State geologist of Vermont he Sc
lccted Iadoc Thompson as his chief
assistant, Denison Olmstead, Jr., and
later 7. Sterry Hunt aiding in ninera-
logy and chemistry. The Rev. s. r.
Hall of Craftsbury, was employed to
look after the agricultural features.
Up to March 1S4S tho survey con-
tinued in fairly prosperous condi-
ton. large amount of material be-
ing collected both in the way of
cr,a lima a,,J
lature for this year appropriations
were for some reason Withheld and the
work stopped. Four reports in ali
were issued. the last Il mere PAM
phlet of eight pages.
THE purpose of the survey, as
stated in the first report. was to col
lect and analyze the soil. the simple
minerals, both of economic and sci
entiiic Importance and to make invcs-
legations into the character and linz
It's of the geological formations The
reports on the whole were extremely
tragmentory. Mr.. Adams dying be-
fore the manuscript of the final re-
port was prepared. large part of his
work was lost this mainly owing to
the fact that he took his notes in a
peculiar shorthand which only he
could read. AS suggested by Profess
sor Thompson, It would have required
more labor to dcc!pher his notes than
TO go over the ground anew. 4.
In 1s47, the year before the clos
Ing of the survey, Adams had accept
ed a professorship at Amherst, and in
1853. in conjunction with Alonzo Gray,
published as textbook and eio-
ments Of geology, a duodecimo volume
of $50 pages. Here his geological
work seems to hSve ceased. Indeed.
from the day of the abandonment OF
the State survey he devoted himself
mainly to geology. and particularly
conchology, making large collections
especially rich in West India and
Central America farms. While at st
Thomas, on one of his collecting trips
he contracted yellow fever. from
which he died In 1853 He is des-
crlbed as a man of sturdy build, me-
dunn height, with large, black eyes
and brown hair. A man of tremen-
dous physical endurance. knowing
neither fear nor what it was to be
contained demeanor.
T.,
is represented to US as a man poor in
this worlds goods as well as in gem
eral health, and modest almost to a
fault-one who from childhood had
/ shown passion for writing books.
| His first publicans WERE almanacs
which he himself sold while travelling
on foot about the country. 1t is told
OF him that when at one time tier
rupted by his clerk with an inquiry
as to the prediction that should be
made in the forthcoming issue for the
weather for July, he replied somewhat
| testify. say, snow about this time,
SO 1t stood in the printed almanacs,
as issued from the press. and to the
the establishment of all. including
both printer and author. snow did fall
in Vermont that year in the month OF
July.
The Industry of the man was re-
markable. He graduated from the
University of Vermont at the age of
81. He published an arithmetic. "A
geography and map of Canada for use
in the common schools; became in
1882 editor of the Green Mountain
Repository wrote a history of YER
mont. which appeared the same year;
studied theology. AMI took deacon $
| orders In the Protestant Episcopal
Church in 1896 He preached for a
time and returned once more to his
book writing. first publishing in thres,
volumes a Natural, Civil and Stats
tical History of Vermont; then text
book on the geology and geography
of Vermont, finally becoming an as
sstant to Professor Adams on the
State survey In 1915. where the geo
logical work really began.
Tall, angular, of very quiet
and sedate, yet very pleasant, man
ner. a man of most amable an. sweet
temper. loved by all who knew him
and respected for his sound sense
and accurate Judgment Such is the
picture given us OF him, who certain
ly was one of the most remarkable
men of his time although his name
may not stand the highest in the an
nails of geology"