Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-11-12
vERMONT's MINERAL RESOURCES
AND FOSSILS.

The sixth biennial report Of Prof.
C. II. Perkins. tho State gcologist
has jus. been published. and II Will
be found unusually interesting. 1t con-
ta!ns considerable material that Is Of
value 70 the people OF Vermont gener
ally a. we'll as some articles OF scien-
tific and more or less technical char
acter. The author has evidently tried
to prepare his report so that II should
be as free from technicalities and as
readily understood by tho average cit
lien as possible. While there Is good
deal of what might be considered as
strictly scientific matter, OF interest
mainly to trained biologists, there is
more that anyone should b> interested
to know. who cares at all about the
manner In which tho State came to be
what It Is IN its physical features.
The first chapter deals with the
mineral resources of Vermont and
gives important statistics OF our min
eral productions. 1t IS shown that Yer
mont leads all other states In its pro-
duction Of marble and granite and Is
second in Its sales OF slate. The annual
sales Of stone quarried in the State
amount to about 100000. II tais
chapter there Is n somewhat detailed
account OF the Vermont exhibit Of stone
at the Jamestown Exposition. from
which 1t may readily be seen that on,
exhibit was highly creditable and 4
has been very highly commended b,
experts in other States. Each OF thu
great stone Industries Is taken up anC
lists Of the principal firms now In act
i've operation are given.
In connection with a general &C
coun: Of the marble industry. brie
descriptions OF nearly sixty Of thu
varieties Of marble now sold In tn
State are given. Had tho appropria
ton permitted. colored plates OF thes
would have been shown and thus
much more accurate idea Of tho re
marKabl. variety and beauty of tn,
Vermont marbles could have beer
gained by those too far from tn
marble area TO see the actual stone
The descriptions are written for tn
purpose OF informing all insereste
as TO the wealth OF Vermont In IT'S de
posts OF marble.
Though occurring in but few varie
ties, the GRANTEES Of the State are tax
Ing the lead over all other varietie
ut this stone quarried In other State,
/ The enormous possibilities open TO tn
granite industry in this State are onl
partially understood by most Of ou
people. Limestone. clay. tale. asbesto
soapstone. and copper AFRO also, thong
in less quantities, sold IN the Sta,
and all together make a not insign
icant item in the income Of the Stat
Following this is n very inportal
, article by the granite expert OF Il
, u. S. geological survey, Professor
n. Dale, on the granite Of Vernon
, The full paper will be published at
later time as government bullet
q but through tho kindness OF the dire
r tor Of tho national survey a very cor
E plete abstract has been furnished
e Professor Dale for the Vermont repoi
{ 1t Is hardly necessary to say that III
p paper Is the most thorough and scie
i t!fc discussion Of the structure, cha
q acter, etc. of our Vermont Eranit
s. that has ever been written. Sta
Geolog!st Perkins has an extend
- and fully illustrated description OF t
u famous fossil whale found nifty yes
+" ago in Charlotte and now In the Sta
- cabinet Other similar specimens @
mentioned for tho sake Of comparis
- and the whole article is really q nc
ograph OF the fossil whales OF the !,
the Vermont specimen lived.
An article which Will be OF espec
value to teachers and students Of pl
steal geography. particularly those
this vicinity. Is Mr.. Merwin's paper
the ancient shore lines OF northwest,
Vermont. Professor Hitchcock Of Ill
>. over, N H.. contributes o chapter
=, the surface geology OF that portion
M, Vermont which is adjacent 20 III
n, over. an area called In the u. 6. to
- graphical maps tho Hanover gu
u. rangle. Two-thirds Of this area Is
ms Vermont and contains many very
- teresting features. The article 10 '
ur illustrated by plates and maps. Tn
Is a report by the geologist on
of geology of Franklin county folio,
he by II detailed study of the geology