24 brooks: applied geology 



logic work (Fig. 1). In 1886 24 per cent of the states had geo- 

 logic surveys; in 1895 the percentage was 42, and in 1910, 80. 



This growing public interest is also manifested by the increase 

 in geologic teaching at colleges and universities. I interpret the 

 statistics published by Prof. T. C. Hopkins as indicating that in 

 1886 there were about 220 of the higher institutions of learning 

 in which geology was taught, while in 1894, there were 378. Of 

 these, 51 had geology organized as a separate department. I have 

 been unable to find any more recent data on geologic education, 

 but that it has made great strides in the last seventeen years will 

 be conceded by all. It will also be generally admitted that the 

 teaching of economic geology is receiving constantly greater 

 attention in the colleges and technical schools. More significant 

 evidence of the present status of geology among the people is the 

 fact of the large number of geologists now in private employment. 

 There are many professional geologists who are engaged in consult- 

 ing practice. Nearly every large mining company and many 

 railways include in their personnel one or more geologists. In a 

 commercial directory of mining experts recently published fully 

 10 per cent classed themselves as geologists, while an edition of 

 the same directory issued ten years ago included only one who 

 claimed to be a geologist. While at that time, as now, many min- 

 ing engineers were in fact professional geologists, they did not 

 care to advertise the fact. 



All this indicates that applied geology has during the last 

 two decades become a dominating element in our geologic work; 

 also that this tendency toward industrial problems pervades all 

 geologic investigations, whether under federal, state, or private 

 auspices. Furthermore it has been made evident that this trend 

 is not limited to the North American continent, but is world- 

 wide. It is clear, also, that since emphasis has been laid upon the 

 economic side there has been a marked increase in the support 

 given to geologic work, from which fact may be drawn the logical 

 conclusion that the public endorses this policy. It does not 

 necessarily follow that this dominating practical note in geology 

 has made for the advancement of the science. Before discussing 

 this important question it will be well to trace briefly the origin 

 of geology as an applied science. 



