Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-02-16

Few states have more or better higt
grade clay deposits than are found
here, and cement rock Is also an i'm
portant natural resource. Natural gas
has been discovered in northwestern
part of the state and farther prospect
ing may show the presence OF eten-
sive reservoirs of gas.
What the Survey Has Done.
Including the volume now In press
the survey has published five reports
containing from 236 to $40 pages each,
with many illustrations and maps.
The first was a preliminary report on
the coal and clay deposits of the state.
The second is devoted almost entire
ly to the coal Of North Dakota, the
deposits being considered by counties
The third contains the results of the
investigation of the coal deposits
west of the Missouri river, together
with the papers on the topography and
geology of North Dakota. The val
liable clays of the state are very fully
treated in the fourth report, which
contains the results Of a large number
OF analyses and tests OF clays from
all parts of the state, with chapters on
the uses and value of North Dakota
clays and methods of brick, manufac.
ture. The fifth report, which Is now
In press, has a detailed account OF the
topography, geology and coal seams
of southwestern North Dakota; de-
scription of the geology and topo-
graphic features of northwestern
North Dakota, with particular refer
ence to the cement materials; besides
papers on natural gas, good roads and
road materials, geological history OF
the state, and statistics Of production
Of coal and clay products.
-, Future Work Of the Survey.
In its work during the next few
years the geological survey plans to
continue the detailed Investigations
Of coal, clay and cement deposits Of
the state. These resources are In
creasing in value and importance with
the rapid growth in population, and
these will furnish the data from which
it will be possible to the information
supplied bv the state geological. sur
vey in it's reports. .
Another important line Of investi-
cation is the problem Of underground
water. Well records from all over
the state are being collected through
the cooperation Of wen drillers and
others, and they viii furnish the data
from which it viii be possible to tell
approximately at what depth artesian
and other waters may be struck in
any part Of the region. 80 Il
The subject of building stone is
one which will receive attention and
while stone suitable for brilding pur-
poses is scorce in this state, these
localities where 1t does occur will be
examined for the purpose Of determin-
ing the extent and quality Of the rock.
/. Need Of Larger Appropriation.
i To carry On the investigations out
lined above, the geological survey
needs larger appropriation. Only
one or two lines of work at a time
can be undertaken with the small sum
Of 81 900, and field work can be carried
on only six or seven weeks of one
year. The geological survey Is thus
seriously hampered and has only been
able to make as good%a showing as it
has during the past SIX years through
the cooperation Of the United States
geological survey, which cannot be
continued longer unless the state is
willing to. do more in the way of
support. W. ,,.:.% 3s..,t1,z, :, ) E..
: No other state In the Union gives
its geological survey so, small an
amount as does North Dakota, and
even the new state OF Oklahoma
gives its recently established survey
fifteen times as much. The following
are the amounts given by q few Of the
other states: Ohio, $1,000. Oklahoma
SIS, 900; Iowa, 81, 1000; Illinois, $4,000;
Missouri, 100000. :! &as Il s. Il Il
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senate that unless more rapid progress