THE PROBLEMS OF GEOLOGY 545 



Principles of Geology the same for the Entire Earth 



The phenomena of geology for any extensive area -- for instance, 

 a continent are so numerous that, had the science originated in 

 Europe, in America, and in Asia independently, the principles of the 

 science developed in these three regions would have been essentially 

 the same. The chief differences would have been that the emphasis 

 placed upon the different principles would have varied. Also the 

 principles of certain divisions of the subject would have been some- 

 what more fully developed in one case than in another. For instance, 

 because of differences in the range of latitude and other climatic 

 conditions, certain parts of the principles of physiography would have 

 been more fully developed on one continent than on another. 



It is, of course, understood that the foregoing statements premise 

 that men of equal ability and attainments had been at work on the 

 problems of geology in the various continents. This supposition is, 

 of course, erroneous, for it is evident that the great constructive work 

 of geology has been done largely by a comparatively few individuals. 

 Indeed, the contrast between nations in the number of creative geo- 

 logists which they have produced is so great that it is a fair inference 

 that the differences in the principles of the science developed in the 

 three continents under the conditions named would have been more 

 largely due to difference in the capacity of the geologists than to 

 variation in the phenomena demanding explanation. In geology, 

 as in other lines of human endeavor, the exceptional man, the genius, 

 is a factor of paramount importance. 



The Problems of Provinces and Districts 



Thus far we have considered only the development of the prin- 

 ciples of geology. They are applicable to the entire earth. There 

 is another great field of geology, which has not yet been suggested, - 

 the application of the principles to provinces and districts. 



This second line of problems of geology is illustrated by such 

 subjects as the stratigraphy of a given district, its physiography, its 

 paleontology, etc. The working-out of the stratigraphy, or physio- 

 graphy, of a given county or township may be of great importance to 

 the inhabitants of that county or township, or even of some conse- 

 quence to the nation. They are, however, of much less importance 

 to persons interested in the advancement of the principles of geology, 

 unless their elucidation adds to the science some new principle, or 

 some unusually fine illustration of an old principle. 



The principles of geology may be broadly comprehended by a single 

 individual. No individual can be familiar with more than a minute 

 fraction of the applications of the principles to the numerous geo- 



