The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-08-20
The Geological SurUey at
 The Uniuersify Of ALaban1a
By P. P. CLAYTON

or this state, who support the Cni- NefsllN Of Alabama. some of the more important services which the uni Nersity renders and it's methods of accomplishing them. the geological survey cannot be omitted. It grew out Of the department of geology and mlneralogy of the university. has rom tho beginning been located at the university, is housed in one of h 2 university buildings, is intricateiy connected with the geological and mineraloeical work of the university. ana is for all practical purposes q fart of tho university. The services or the survey may justly be claimed as services of the university.
 Richard T. Brumby. professor in the university, 1S34-49, wrote for .hn newspapers of this state many ar- ticles on geology and urged the es tablishment of a geological survey. When Michael Tuomey was elected to the professorship of geology in 1S47 It was stipulated that he should spend part of his time in geological exploration of the state. He began ais field studies immediately, pub hshing in the newspapers of Tusea ! loosa such notes on his explorations as were of general interest. In recognition of the value of this wora the legislature in January. 1SfS. elected Professor Tuomey state geol ogist hut without salary and re- quested him to make to the legisla- ture report of his work to be pub hshed by the state. Thus was begun the first geological survey of Ala bama
 Professor Tuomey submitted his re-
 port 10 the legislature in 1S49 and continued his explorations at the ex- pense Of the university until 1851, when the legislature passed an act to provide for geological and agrl cultural survey of the state, making appropriations for the salaries of the state seologist and his assistants and providing for the expense of the sur vey. The governor appointed Profes- sor Tuomey state geologist. His headquarters were continued at the university and he delivered courses of lectures here from time to time until his death In 1857. His second report was submitted in 1855, but wa s not published until after his death. Dr. John W. Maliet, professor of chemistry in the university, was then commissioned by the governor to su- pervise the printing of this report, which was published in 1858 along with the second geological map of the state.
 In these two reports of Professor Tuomey and in the accompanying maps the main geological divisions of the state were defined, their surface distributions shown and the future importance of the coal and iron re- sources clearly predicted.
 After the death of Professor Tuomey no geological survey work was done until after the reorganizu- tion of the university in 1S71 The university then again took the lead and authorized it's professor of geol- ogy, Dr. Eugene A. Smith, to spend part of his time in geological sur vey work
 Two years later, in 1873, the iegis- lature passed an act: "To Revive the Geological and Agricultural Survey of Alabama" appropriated small amount for equipment and $500 year for a period of 10 years for ex. penses, and appointed Dr. Smith stase geologist. without salary. his only compensation being that paid by the university for his services as profes- sor of geology. In the next 10 years, during which time Professor Smieh had the assistance of Henry Me Galley, who also served the state gratuitously, most of the counties of q ports were made, dealing mainly with the iron and coal resources and the agricultural features of the state
 The appointment of pr. Smith to this position was very fortunate for the state. graduate of the Uni versity of Alabama in 1862, a student at Berlin and Goetingen and a Tn. D. of Heidelberg, an eminent geoI- ogist and an indefatigable worker, Dr. Smith has continued to serve the state through a half century-longer than any other man has ever served in such position, except Dr. James Hall, who was state geologist for New York through a period of 55 years and who was at one time of- fered the professorship of geology at the University of Alabama This long service has given to the work of the survey a continuity which has made possible an unusual amount of very valuable work at comparatively small expense. much more than could have been done by a succession of iif- fercnt men, however able. In these 50 years, at very small expense to the state, every part of the state has been visited and mapped and about so reports have been published deal ing with the geology and the mineral resources of the state.
 State More Liberal
 Since 1883 the state has been more liberal toward the survey and sue cessive legislatures have made ap- propriations. however, small in pro- portion to the work and it's import ance, for the salaries of the state geologst and his assistants, for field work and other expenses. But the office of the survey has remained at the university and its close rela- tions with the university and it's work have never been severed or weakened.
 This survey has witnessed the growth of the mineral industry from the smallest beginnings to great magnitudes. Thus the coal mined in Alabama in 1874. the year after the survey was organized. amounted to 50.ooo tons. In 1918 the produc- ton was 19,1s4,962. valued at s54,- 752.329. In 1880 the coke produced in the state was 60,7S1 tons. valued at s1S3,063. In 1918 the amount pro- duced was 4,352,172 tons, valued at $30.813.374. Graphite was not pro- duced at all until comparatively re- cent date, though it's existence In Alabama has been known for many years. In 1918 the production of graphite was 7,795,475 pounds. val ued at $999,152. Similar figures could be assembled for the production of other minerals
 Just what share the survey has had in the development of these great industries 1t is impossible to say, but in the case of the cement in- dustry we can speak with certainty Before 1895 there was in Alabama no plant for manufacturing Portland cement. In that year the state ge- ologist published a paper on tho