Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-01-24
A Geological Survey For Virginia

Senator Rison has introduced a
a bill to establish d Geological Sur
vey for Virginia. The survey IS
needed and such measure VII
probably become law.
There seems much misapprehenslon
as to the Rison Bill and its pur--
poses. The Bill does not propose
to create Department of Geology
at the University Of Virginia. Such
Department has existed there for
over seventy years, and under Pro-
fessors Fontaine and Watson, is to
day perhaps the strongest Depart
ment of this kind in The South
Neither does the bill propose nor
desire to injme the Geological De
partment at the Virginia Pol, teen
mic Institute or at any other instl.
tuition, aud cannot affect such De-
partments except benefcially. The
proposed Survey, in fact, has Moth.
ing to do with any institutions as a
part of that institution. 1t is put
under the control of a State Geo.
logical Commission, consisting OF
the Governor, President of the Uni.
v.,sity, President of the Virginia
Polytechnic Institute, and two cit.
jzens of the State appointed By the
Governor. The office of the Sur
vey is located atsthe University of
Virginia. A Geological Survey is
great scientific undertaking, ex-
tending in its operations over a
long period of time. Its success
depends upon at least Nsix condi-
lions: its director; the scientific staff
Inch shall assist him; the strength
of the scientific equipment immedl-
ately available for the work; the
opportunity for consultation with
experts in kindred subjects>and for
the use of laboratories in kindred
subjects; the location as to accessl-
bility to theCState and to the Geo
logical work at Washington. TIE
duty Of the Legislature is to DECIDE
at what place these conditions eAst
in the greatest strength. 1t an
not be questioned that the Unipr
sity Of Virginia possesses to4ay
the essentials of this ideal Loatlon
in very great degree AS matter
Of fact. such Surveys are almost in
variahy placed at the State Unl-
yersities. Of twelve Southern
States, which have established such
surveys, ten have placed them at
State Universities and two
have been made Independent bu-
reaus. The proportion herein in
Dictated remains true throughout
the country. To place Geologi |
cal Survey at any other point than
the State or leading university. or
as an independent bureau, would
be to do an unusual and exception
al thing, not justified except upon,
clear proof that it could be better
done elsewhere. n y
1t seems to US altogether wrong
and illogical to think of or to rep
resent these two institutions, the
University of Virginia and the V.
P. l., which are sister institutions
and parts of one whole system of
higher education maintained by the
State, as engaging in fight in
this matter with any desire to in
iure each other. They are simply
public servants, both anxious to
render public service to the State.
Any sort of hostility between pub
lie servants is absurd and stupid.
The University Of Virginia would
rs soon seek to injure itself as to
njure the Virginia Polytechnic
Institute; indeed would lnjure it.
ielf, because they are parts of one
Jingle thing. The State has this
question to decide, therefore. I'm
Ter what direction Can it expect to
get the best results in this great
enterprise? From whatever place
he work is directed, the resources
# all institutions should bebrought
uto requisition and cooperation
tmoan tban, nbto;pod FIR fba