818 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



which plan, with some modifications, was carried out in the final or- 

 ganization. This plan contemplated the employment of two geolo- 

 gists for each district, which was modified to the appointment of one 

 geologist and an assistant for each district. One mineralogist was ap- 

 pointed for the entire State, and also one botanist and one zoologist. 



During the session of 1836 the Legislature passed " an act to pro- 

 vide for a Geological Survey of the State," authorizing and directing 

 the Governor to employ a suitable number of competent persons, 

 whose duty it shall be, under his direction, to make an accurate and 

 complete geological survey of this State, which shall be accompanied 

 with proper maps and diagrams, and furnish a full and scientific de- 

 scription of its rocks, soils, and minerals, and of its botanical and zo- 

 ological productions, together with specimens of the same ; which 

 maps, diagrams, and specimens shall be deposited in the State Library ; 

 and similar specimens shall be deposited in such of the literary insti- 

 tutions of this State as the Secretary of State shall direct.* 



The act further provided for an annual appropriation for defray- 

 ing the expenses, and required the persons employed to make an an- 

 nual report to the Legislature on or before the first day of February 

 in each year, setting forth the progress made in the survey. 



The magnitude and importance of the work were duly considered 

 by Governor Marcy and his advisers,f and the appointments were 

 made only after long deliberation, and extensive correspondence with 

 the prominent scientific men of the country, and with the Governors 

 of other States. 



The appointments of the principal geologists were made as follows : 

 Lieutenant W. W. Mather, a native of Connecticut, who had lately 

 resigned from the United States Army, was assigned to the First Dis- 



New York, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan, Delaware, Ulster 

 Greene, Columbia, Rensselaer, Albany, Schoharie, Schenectady, Saratoga, and Washington 

 containing an area of 12,263 square miles 



The Second District consisted of the counties of Warren, Essex, Clinton, Franklin 

 Hamilton, and St. Lawrence, to which was afterward added the county of Jefferson 

 making 10,817 square miles. 



The Third District comprised the counties of Montgomery, Herkimer, Oneida, Lewis 

 Jefferson (afterward added to the Second District), Oswego, Madison, Onondaga, Cayu 

 ga, Wayne, Ontario, Monroe, Orleans, Genesee, and Livingston, making, as reorganized 

 11,468 square miles. 



The Fourth District consisted of the counties of Otsego, Chenango, Broome, Tioga, 

 Cortland, Tompkins, Seneca, Yates, Steuben, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and 

 Niagara, embracing an area of 11,59-1 square miles. 



The Third and Fourth Districts were afterward reorganized, making all the counties 

 to the west of Cayuga Lake, and a line drawn north and south from its two extremities, 

 the Fourth District, which contained 11,060 square miles. 



* Laws of fifty-ninth session, chapter 142. 



f Among these gentlemen were Hon. John A. Dix, Secretary of State, Hon. Stephen 

 Van Rensselaer, Dr. T. Romeyn Beck, Professor Amos Eaton, and Edwin Croswell, Esq., 

 who had frequent meetings, which were continued at intervals through several months. 



