The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-12-02
@rrmont GMatrhman.
THE STATE BIOLOGIST.

The journal desires to endorse
most heartily the following apprecia-
ton of the work of the State Geolo-
gist which appeared in the Barre
Times Friday evening:
"In it's State Geologist and Curator
of the State Museum, Vermont has
one of those rare individuals who
are not constantly watching the clock
and always pining for payday. Prof
G. H. Perkins is not in his present
position because of the money he ex
poets to get out of it, but rather from.
the love of the work, so the mere
fact that the appropriation for his
department has been exhausted for
the current fiscal year does not cause
him to stop his labors for fear of
putting in little extra work. State
Geologist Perkins carries his faith
fulness even to the degree of fault,
when his own comforts and conven-
fences are conc erned, and in this in
stance he does not intend to neglect
his duties, even if there is not any
money in sight to pay him for SER
vices, or for the mileage between his
home and the State House at Montpe-
Her Such faithfulness ought not to
be passed unrewarded by the Legisla-
ture when it convenes next fall; and
the appropriation which was sliced
by the Assembly of 1908 will be forth
coming, if Vermont appreciates a
conscientious, as well as capable, Of
fetal"
In Prof. G. H. Perkins Vermont has
as a State Geologist one of the ablest
scientific scholars in the United
States. For forty years he has been
a tower of strength to the University
modest of men, his ability and effici-
ency are recognized by scientists ev-
erywhere. Because he is so modest
and unassuming Vermont does not
recognize fully what splendid value
she receives from the paltry sum
paid for the work of the State Geol-
ogist.
The stone industry of Vermont is
one of the greatest in the common
wealth and it's possibilities are al
most limitless. 1t would be a most
excellent investment to increase the
appropriation for the use of the
State Geologist very materially, in
order to know more definitely the
extent of the mineral resources of
Vermont This would not be doing
violence to the principles of econ
omy, but rather would be the wisest
kind of economy. The man who be-
lieved he had gold mine on his
farm, yet refused to spend a few dol
lars for prospecting purposes would
not be called an economical individ-
ual, but rather fool. The Vermont
hills and mountains are rich in treas
ures OF marble, granite, slate, soap
stone, tale, asbestos, etc. To make a
thorough survey of our mineral
wealth would be the best kind of bus
mess sagacity We may not always
be able to command the services of
an experienced and sensible geolo-
gist like Professor Perkins. 1t would
be the part of wisdom to take advan-
tage of his services now.
The reports of the State Geologist
issued since Professor Perkins as
sumed the duties of the office, are ex-
ceedingly valuable publications, and
models of what such reports should
be. They are written in a popular
style but are scientifically accurate
and show the most painstaking re-
search. Professor Perkins, although
native of Massachusetts, is a most
loyal Vermonter, loving the State of his
adoption and enthusiastic over Ver-
mont's possibilities. Active in every
good work, he represents the finest
type of the efficient public servant
and the intelligent and useful citi-
zen.