Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-06-20
THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA
What 1t Means in the Development of the Satets Past
Accomplishments and Its Present Work

ais and 1t is only through scientific
study of these formations that the ge-
oIogist is able. to give reliable data as
to the nature and Occurrences OF mineral
deposits For example, In e<dmasing
the available tonnage OF the ores, Goals.
cementing materials. etc. DR. T. Poole
Maynard, OF this Survey. is at present
engaged in the investigation OF the ce-
menting materials and limestones Of
North Georgia. But few persons have
any conception of the manifold uses OF
cement and its revolutionizing effect on
structural work This Investigation IL
most timely, and the report will rep
resent authoritativeIy possibilities await
ing development A knowledge OF the
geological formation facilitates the study
Of the road building materials OF the
state. IN the coastal plain region OF
Georgia, the people should especially
realize the value OF a thorough knOwl-
edge of the rocks and clays available
for road construction. The cost OF trans
portation of those materials Is expensive
and they are often carried from q com
siderable distance when suitable mate
rails occur at hand. report has been
issued by the geological survey on
roads and road building materials OF
Georgia In which the following qnes-
tons are discussed: The value. OF good
location, surfacing. maintenance. and
repair. The road materials OF the fol-
lowing photographic provinces. NAMELY,
the coastal plain. Piedmont plateau, the
Appalachian mountains the AppaIach-
ian valley, and the Cumberland plateau.
are presented; and the report is con-
Guided with a discussion of the equip
ment. methods of road working, and
materials. by counties. and the rela-
tons of topography
The examination of the water cow
ers has been carried on in cooperation
with the United States geological sur
vey, and preliminary river surveys and
stream gaugings have been made In the
more important drainage basins. namely,
the Savannah basin, the Ogeechee bssin,
the Altamaha basin, the Appalechicola
basin, the Mobile basin, and the Tonnes
see basin. Sufficient data have been col
Iected to know that at the lowest known
annual stream gauge an approximate ag-
gregate of 800. 900 horsepower is attain
able. BY the use of storage dams. fully
100000 horsepower, at q low asti-
mate. could be made available. Further
investigation Of the water powers Of the
state win be carried on IN cooperation
with the United States geological sur
vey.
A knowledge of the underground wa
tiers OF the state can only be ascertalned
through a thorough investigation Of the
water-bearing and adjacent strata The
study OF the geological formations. pre-
lininary to the study OF the UNDER
ground waters. has been completed By
Mr.. Otto Veatch, OF this survey, and
DR.. l.. w. Stephenson. OF the United
States geological survey, and win be
published at very early date. While the
great economic value Of this report may
not be recognized at once, It win be OF
considerable value not only in the further
tsudy of the underground waters OF G-s0r-
gia, but also viii be the basis OF the
future investigation Of the mineral re-
sources, including clays, marls, bsIux~
ties. fullers earth. ETC., and viii be OF
great aid in the soil studies which ara
planned for this portion Of the state
The examination OF the swamp areas
was begun many years ago by this sur
vey. but on account of the lack Of apTro-
priation by the legislature to carry on
this work 1t has been delayed The study
of the soils and the physical mappins; OF
the same, Is planned in cooperation with
the United States bureau of soils. ami II
will be of the greatest possible value 70
the farmer in the study Of the adapta-
ton of crops to soils.
The survey desires to make a detailed
search throughout the state for rocks
which are the source OF our potash, The
supply of which has become vital prob
lem to the American farmer
The very foundation Of our agrieul-
tural wealth depends on the source OF
those materials, namely. our mines and
our Quarries.
The Importance and the possibilities
of all the lines of work outlined above
as having been undertaken and as pro-
jected viii readily appear to any thouGnt-
full person. and If the state is to deVel-
op with aer sister states and hold the
enviatle position she now occupies among
them. she should certainly provide the
means TO carry on the work necessary TO
collect the data for bringing into acs;es-
ner future development.
sible form the information necessary for