ACAD..K F SCIENCES] BIOGRAPHY 3 



They found that the same insect which did the greatest damage to cotton in the United States 

 existed to a greater or less extent in all cotton-growing regions of Brazil, but that it was par- 

 ticularly abundant in certain districts. They made large collections, and in the spring of 1S83 

 Doctor Brainier returned to Washington and presented his results to the Department of Agri- 

 culture. 



After this trip Doctor Brainier temporarily ceased his frequent visits to Brazil and 

 accepted an appointment on the Geological Survey of Pennsylvania to do topographic mapping 

 in the Lackawanna Valley and neighboring country, one of the great anthracite and industrial 

 regions of the United States. Prof. J. P. Lesley was director of the survey at that time, and 

 his natural genius in topography was an inspiration to Doctor Branner in accomplishing 

 similar work not only in Pennsylvania but subsequently in other regions. Doctor Branner 

 also made careful observations on the glacial geology of northeastern Pennsylvania, comprising 

 the southerly extension of the great glacial region in these parts, a subject of especial scientific 

 interest to glacial geologists. 



In the spring of 1885 Doctor Branner was elected professor of geology at Indiana Univer- 

 sity, Bloomington, Ind., and in the same year received the degree of Ph. D. from that institu- 

 tion. The president at that time was Dr. David Starr Jordan, noted scientist and one of the 

 foremost ichthyologists in the world. Through his efforts and those of Doctor Branner the 

 university became a center for special instruction and research. Doctor Branner, with his 

 wide professional experience and his knowledge of remote regions, gave great effect to this 

 movement, particularly in his work and instruction in geology, botany, and entomology; and he 

 created a group of enthusiastic young students who later followed him to Arkansas and Cali- 

 fornia. During part of this period he was also connected with the United States Geological 

 Survey. 



In the spring of 1887, Doctor Branner was appointed State geologist of Arkansas by Gover- 

 nor Hughes, a position which he accepted with leave of absence from Lidiana University. One 

 of the mam reasons for the creation of the geological survey of Arkansas was the great excite- 

 ment over the supposed existence of gold and silver in that State, especially in the Ouachita 

 Mountains, which run westward from Hot Springs to what was then the border of Indian 

 Territory, but which is now the border of Oklahoma. 



Many companies capitalized at millions of dollars had been formed to work the alleged 

 mines. A thorough investigation was made by Doctor Branner and his assistants, and they 

 were eventually forced to the conclusion that the mines then known were valueless and the 

 few which contained a little gold and silver carried them in such small quantities as to be 

 insignificant. This announcement of the first work of the geological survey caused great 

 indignation among many of those financially interested in promoting the mines; the State geolo- 

 gist was burned hi effigy, and the governor of the State was asked to remove him from office. 

 Doctor Branner, however, stood firm, for he knew that he was correct in his conclusions, and he 

 ignored the bitter efforts to destroy his professional reputation. Governor Hughes also sup- 

 ported him, and the State legislature later indorsed his work and even increased the appropria- 

 tion for continuing the survey. As time went on and the views of Doctor Branner were verified, 

 the old antagonism was changed to a feeling of remarkable confidence and respect. 



Doctor Branner carried on his active survey in Arkansas for about five years, though he 

 continued the work periodically for many years afterwards. It was doubtless the greatest 

 accomplishment of his life; and though accompanied with innumerable difficulties and most 

 arduous work, the result was well worth his splendid efforts. Fourteen volumes were published, 

 and several were prepared but not published on account of lack of funds. They cover the 

 paleontology, stratigraphy, petrology, economic geology, and other natural features of the State. 

 The mineral resources were carefully investigated and discussed throughout the survey reports, 

 but the purely theoretic geology was never forgotten as the economic possibilities were unfolded. 

 The survey was thus of great importance from both purely scientific and economic standpoints, 

 and when Doctor Branner finally left Arkansas to go to Stanford University his departure was 

 regretted by the whole community. 



