Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-01-31
FRIDAY EVENING. JAN. 81. 1903.

OF THE many measures pending be-
fore the legislature there Is one to es-
tsblish State geological survey. 1t is
a matter Of the grestest Importance TO
the people. Untold millions of wealth lie
hidden In the lands OF the commonwealth,
AID only need development to make
Virginia an exceedingly wealthy State.
With reasonable working Of her minerals,
and q small tax on the output, the
State would have very ample means Tor
all her needs-S!ate government, good
roads and education, including primary, |
high schools, colleges and University |
carrying GU. 10 full Mr.. JefsrSon's
hopss), and sinking fund large enough
to pay the public debt in a much shorter
time. 1t needs but to ascertain and
locate virginia's varied wealth and to
make the same known, and the result
"a esrtain. The surface h7s hardly been
scratched. Only let the world know OF
her lands, and her minerals, their
adaptation and extent, and there is no
reason why wealth and migration
should not flow into her borders.
Riches lie within her confines which
would make pale even the dreams
which Cortez aud PizsrrO carried back to
Spain. Much of this has thus far remain
ed almost dormant, either from lack OF
foresight or means of exploitation.
Comparatively little has been done.
The national government lands its aid
and goes hand in hand with the State 10
geological WORK. Other parts OF the
south have been waking up to the great
inheritance of this work. Every ad-
vance on these lines has increased the
wealth Of the South, and the world is
rapidly taking notice-see the result in
southern development.
Virgioia is one of The only two south
ern States that has not provided for this
work. Not one Of them can show q
greater vsrieiy and abundance OF min
erel resources. As to the lands, farm
lag. grazing, trucking, vineyards, Or
chards-uone can compare. Her climate,
meeting mid gsy between the rigors OF
tina winters Of the far north and the en-
ervstiDg heat of the summers of the far
south is all that can be desired. As q
land 10 live in there is none better any
where. The time ia certainly now to be
up and doing. The means are at hand
for the work. There is no excuse for
further delay.
IL 1885 Virginia siw The Importance
OF the work, and, by an act of March
9Th of that year, geological survey was
authorized, and William Barton Rogers,
professor of natural philosophy in the
University of Virginia, was appointed
State Geologist. Rogers conducted the
survey for seven years; annual reports
we're made to and published by the State
and this constitutes the official record of
the only systematic geological survey
ever undertaken by order Of the legisls.
lure. In 1912 the preliminary survey
was completed. Further work on de-
tailed survey Eas then suspended, no
funds being provided for continuing the
work. Professor Rogers continued in
his chair at the university until 1853,
and taught and wrote much on the sub
ject, which, it is believed, has never
been published. The work was con-
tinued under Professor Francis n.
Smith. In 1873 new impetus was given
10 geological studies by the valuable gift
OF the Lewis Brooks Museum Of Natural
History and Geology, this being speedily
followed by donation Of 6ity-thousand
dollars from William w. Corcoran. The
board of visitors established the new
school, snd elected to the chair William
n. Foatain, recoguzed as learned and
skilIful geologist, snd sn enthusiastic
worker in field geology. Special ar
Tangemepts were made to enable Pro-
fessor Fouteiu to continue his field
studies. In the summers he formed
heid party Of students, and engaged in
field studies of the more interesting and
UNEMPLOYED geologicsl regions Of SIR
ginia. These rese.rch=s attracting the
attention Of hs director Of the United
S.alts Geological Survey, Professor
Fontsin vas enrolled upon its corps Of
workers. The result Of his researches
and previous geological studies were
given the scientific world 10 the Ameri-
can Journal Of Science Of the Virginias,
and othe' scientific periodicals, and were
also contained in four volumes, published
by the United States Geological Survey.
These publications have given Professor
Fontain international distinction IS q
geologist, and are quite rs important to
a geological survey of Virginia as any
made In the State.
In 1904 the Virginia PolYLechnic In.