The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-11
LONG HIKE TAKEN
BY RICHMOND men
Biologists Covered 1000
Miles in Three Counties
During Summer.

One thousand miles fs the distance
in round numbers that party of local
students of geology covered during the
course of their vacation this summer.
Mr.. B. w. Kelly. the head of the bot
any department at the high school.
who has just returned from the trip
recounted today some of the hardships
and pleasures encountered by the par
'sys III maklng 8eelogical sureey of
'tnfee counties Of this state. The mem-
bers of the party were Prof. "A. D.
Hole. Of Eariham College, who was In
charge of the expedition, Prof. John
Thompson, of the Rich pond High
School. B. W. Kelly, willard Roberts.
Mark Baldwin and Ed. Leonard.
The crowd started out shortly after
the close of the last school year. They
had with them three tents, horse and
wagon, complete cooking outfit, nu-
merous books on geology. maps. cam
eras, several three foot soil augurs.
and an instrument to identity the vari-
Gus kinds of soil. During the time they
were gone. they covered Hancock,
Shelby. and Johnson Counties. Al
though their principal task was to de-
termine and map out the soil existing
in each square mile of the three coun-
ties. Mr.. Kelly said that they also
made complete geological survey.
Unusual Experiences.
Several unusual experiences were
encountered according to Mr.. Kefly's
accounts. When they were in the nei-
ghborhood OF Indianapolis, they were
thought by many to be soldiers be-
cause they wore khaki clothes. At 9TH
er times they were assumed to be bill
distributors, ditch inspectors or dyna-
miters. Not the least Of their unpleas-
ant experiences were suffered on the
cold nights. They had hardly enough
warm clothing. and one night the cold
was SO intense that, according to Prof
up and put his glasses on to keep
warm.
Their typical program for day COM
menced at six O'Clock in the morning
when breakfast was served Their
camp was always pitched right in the
middle Of township and as soon as
the morning meal was finished, they
separated. and each man was given a
certain amount of land to study and
map out before nightfall. They were
supplied with the base maps which the
government furnishes. They carried
their lunch with them, and never re-
turned to camp until evening. They
had to touch at least one spot in each
square mile. BY means of their au-
gurs, they could drill down three feet
into the ground. This was In nearly ev-
cry case deep enough to serve their
purpose. The methods employed In de-
|termining the soil were by feeling the
texture. noting the color, and watching
its action under water. After the din
ner, which was served at six o'clock,
they sat around discussing the work,
or studying, until bed time They
brought several samples OF soil home
with them, and the -geologists hope
to finish their investigations In the
laboratory during the winter
1t Is the aim of the state geologist
to have the whole state mapped In
this way before the expiration OF three
years. This win be of inestimable val
ne to the farmers as they will be able
to determine how to treat their lands
without having to guess what sort Of
soil they are dealing with.