The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1914-04-28

tigation. Idaho's mining district
must remain unattractive to OUTSIDE
capital until we are in a position tt
furnish more accurate informant. 1
about them. The stute mine inspector
is doing excellent work in this direc-
ton, but geological studies d, moi
fall within the scope of his office, an6
the university biologists have a great
opportunity in this respect.
NOn-Metallic Minerals.
And SO l believe that we can render
a great service to the state by prepar-
ing bulletins in the geology Of promis-
ing but undeveloped mining districts
! bulletins which will point out the best
methods of explorations and develop
ment, and which will set forth the con-
ditions in the districts with such scien-
tific accuracy that they will NJ Iona
or remain unknown country" to the
| big investors. But / also believe that
similar bulletins should b. prepared
en- districts that are rich III non-me-
tallic resources, though not classed as
mining districts" Clays, coal, oil,
peat, cement rook, and similar sub
stances are valuable, and finding them
and developing them are matters of
geology. In the southeastern corner
Of Idaho for ;pctanro 4, q carioc Of
sedimentary rocks which are known
to carry coal and phosphate rock, and
which may carry oil, cement rock, and
valuable clays. l have little doubt
that geological exploration of that
portion of the state would add greatly
to our mineral wealth.
Department a Center of Information.
In addition to publishing bulletins
as outlined above, the department
should be center of information for
the people of the state If a man finds
strange looking rock, mineral, OF
fossil, we should identify it for him
Ii man is to drill for water, We
should !e able to furnish him infor-
nation as to the kind of rock he will
find below The soil. Il a public build
ing CT monument is 20 be erected, we
should pass upon the character of the
stone to be used, thus guarding against !
the use of material that will not stand |
the test of time. If road commissioners |
want certain kind of road material we |
should tell them of its nearest occur |
renee. If the agricultural depart |
should aid with information in regard |
to the geology of the region, for geo.
logical conditions determine soil con-
ditions. If a high school teacher
wants knowledge of the physical |
geography of the state for use in the
we should furnish it.
That the department can serve the
state in the above ways, is not a mere
dream, for | am constantly receiving
inquiries on these lines, even though
our readiness to answer questions has
not been advertised.
So much for what we could do Just
4 word as to what we have done, re-
that no special fund is
available for geological extension,
and that the department is not furnish
I'd with assistance beyond that sup
posed to be necessary to the regular
teaching work
In cooperation with the mining de-
oartment we have published bulle-
in on the geology of the Dixie Mining
district. II
We have published in a geological
ournal two papers adding to the
of the general geology of
IDAHO. Reprints of these are on hand
or free distribution to those interest
d. II
We have made determinations of all |