28 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HISTORY SURVEY [Bull. 



The appropriation for the Connecticut Geological and Natural 

 History Survey is one of the very smallest of those which are 

 made by the states at present maintaining such surveys. North 

 Dakota makes an appropriation somewhat smaller than that of 

 Connecticut. Six states make annual appropriations for geology 

 alone ranging from ten thousand to twenty-eight thousand dol- 

 lars, exclusive of cost of publication, and five others make annual 

 appropriations ranging from ten thousand to fifteen thousand 

 dollars, inclusive of cost of publication. In comparison with an 

 appropriation of ten thousand dollars for geology alone, our 

 appropriation of fifteen hundred dollars for geology, botany, and 

 zoology seems rather small. It is fair, however, to consider that 

 Connecticut is not a large state, and that there is no probability 

 that further geological exploration will develop great mineral 

 wealth or create a great mining industry. If the work of the 

 next few years is to be of the same general character as that 

 of previous years, we are not disposed to urge strenuously a large 

 increase of the appropriation. If, however, it should be deemed 

 expedient, after further consideration, to undertake either a soil 

 survey or a study of the water resources, there would be need, 

 at least temporarily, of a very considerable increase of the appro- 

 priation. In any case we believe that the Survey should be 

 recognized as having passed the experimental stage, and having 

 vindicated its claim to be a permanent establishment. The pres- 

 ent demand is for recognition as a permanent institution, and for 

 adequate provision for the publication of the results of its work. 



LEGISLATION DESIRED IN REGARD TO PUBLICATION OF 



BULLETINS 



The law establishing the Survey made it the duty of the Com- 

 missioners to cause to be prepared a report to the General As- 

 sembly before each meeting of the same, and special reports, with 

 necessary illustrations and maps, on the geology and natural 

 history of the state. It also made it the duty of the Commis- 

 sioners to direct in regard to the sale or distribution of the re- 

 ports, when printed. It imposed upon the Commissioners no 

 responsibility for the printing. It was the obvious intent of the 

 act that the whole of the small appropriation made for the Sur- 

 vey should be devoted to the scientific work of investigation and 

 preparation of the reports. The cost of publication of the reports 



