34 brooks: applied geology 



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In discussing this topic, we presume to suggest, that, in the first place, 

 it is necessary for Government to explore and discover these coals, and 

 lay them bare for the inspection of British coal masters or companies, 

 and with this view, the first thing to be done, is to employ a prudent 

 man of abilities and skill in the theory and practice of the coal business; 

 to survey the West India coals and coal fields; to make such trials upon 

 the coals alread} r discovered, and those he may discover, as may be 

 necessary to ascertain the thickness, quality, and situation of each 

 stratum of coal that may be judged worth attention; and to make out a 

 full and substantial report of all the material circumstances relating to 

 each coal, for the information and use of Government, and of such gentle- 

 men and companies as may wish to look into this interesting subject. 



These recommendations for governmental surveys of mineral 

 resources were made a generation before they were followed and 

 fully a half century before the nations of the world were generally 

 to accept the principle. Williams also touches on some of the 

 problems which absorb us today. After advocating the inves- 

 tigation of the colonial coal fields, he says, in words which have a 

 familiar ring: 



When this report is made and considered by Government, suitable 

 encouragement should be offered to gentlemen and to companies of 

 character, stock, and abilities for such undertakings, to open and work 

 some of these coals 



The first undertakers should be allowed a sufficiently extensive coal- 

 field, and every reasonable privilege and indulgence; but the> should 

 not have a monopoly. Other adventurers should have room to employ 

 their skill and capitals in this line of business in the west as well as in 

 Britain. Monopolies seldom do much good. The views of monopolists 

 are always too selfish and confined to be of extensive utility and public 

 benefit. 



While Williams was among the first to recommend govern- 

 mental mineral surveys, the idea of showing mineral deposits 

 on maps appears to have been part of a plan for soil maps con- 

 ceived by Martin Lister a century before, and put into practice 

 by Guettard in 1746. Sir Archibald Geikie has credited the first 

 geologic map to this eminent French naturalist, but has not suf- 

 ficiently emphasized the fact that Guettard's map also showed the 

 distribution of mines and mineral deposits. Others followed his 

 example, and before the close of the eighteenth century the carto- 

 graphic representation of geology and mineral deposits had be- 

 come well established. 



