The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1910-05-19
GEOLOGICAL COMMISSION
Created Under Recent Statute Or
ganized and Began Work May
First m Capitol Annex.

/ A4nL Ii ~ fSAhCA &AIAAASSAN
The state legislature, at its last SEES
sion, provided for the establishment o
a geological survey to begin operations
the first of The present month. Thu
bill provided for a state geological com
mission, composed of the governor, thu
state commissioner of agriculture, the
chief mine inspector, the president o.
the University of Tennessee, the chan
cellor of Vanderbilt University and
the vice-chancellor of the University
of the south. This commission has
held several meetings, and on March
Is elected, as state geologist, Mr.. Geo,
H. Ashley, formerly of the U. S. geol.
ogical survey, and as associate geolo.
gists, l.. G. Glenn, of Vanderbilt Uni,
versity and Mr.. q. H. Gordon, of the
University of Tennessee.
The new survey began its work May
first, as provided by law, the survey
office being established for the present,
in the capitol annex building, Nash
vile. Before beginning work regular.
ly Mr.. Ashley had made provisional
arrangements for large amount of co
operative work with several of the ma
tional bureaus, so as to nearly double
the money to be spent on the geology
of the state.
AS the new survey is being deluged
with requests for publications, it may
be noted that in the few days since it
began operations, there has hardly
been time to publish extensively. In
deed little of Importance need be look
ed for before the results of the coming
field season have been worked up and
printed. To meet immediate needs
the survey plans to publish circulars
of information, giving briefly, sum-
mary of the facts already known on
the various resources of the state, and
giving references to what has been
published, and how it can be obtained.
But the preparation of these circulars
will require time.
The main publications of the survey
will probably appear as bulletins to be
issued as fast as work is completed.
Among the things with which the
new department will concern itself
may be mentioned: coal, oil, gas, ores,
fertilizers, building stone, road making
clays, cement materials,
sands, solid minerals and artisan wa
tiers, drainage Of swamps, streams and
water powers and other natural re-
sources. Manifestly with the funds at
its command, it will be impossible for
the survey to take up all of these mat
tiers at once, as aside from certain pre-
studies, it is planned that all
of the work done shall be as thorough
as any similar work being done by
either the national of the other state
governments. Such work is slow and
but experience has every
where demonstrated that such thor
ough work repays the extra costs ma
ny times over.
The survey is anticipating the hearty
cooperation of citizens of the state,
wherever its work is carried on. It'll
would also appreciate any information
bearing on its work, the discovery of
,,ot la1NDCifc and fha a<f nTCin,a IF l1fl
erea OF known deposits of minerals or
ores or any facts bearing on the sub
jects already enumerated; in its turn
the su vey stands ready TO supply all
the information it can along these
same lines. While it cannot undertake
TO annalyze specimens, or to make as
says of ores, it would gladly make
such an examination of specimens as
,an be made without analysis or as
say.
Again, in the prosecution of the field |
work, much information of confiden-
ial nature will be obtained. Such in
will be held strictly conf
lential, and will not be made public
through publications or otherwise,
Except on the expressed. PERMISSION of
hose supplying the information.
1t is planned, by notices in the news
papers, to keep the public informed of
he results or work going on, or of any
publications ready for distribution.