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annually in published volumes fails to reach the general public, being 

 by some curious reasoning apparently regarded as of more importance 

 to scientific bodies and institutions of learning abroad than to those 

 who are most directly interested in the developmeni and growth of our 

 country's mineral wealth — a condition of things which doubtless to a 

 large extent accounts for the oft repeated question : " What is ihe work 

 of the Geological Survey?" In the present arrangement of publication, 

 however, far greater facilities now exist for obtaining desired information 

 on any particular area. 



While it would be folly to assert that the work of the Canadian 

 Survey or of any other similar institution has always been free from 

 mistakes, since that would imply a degree of infallibility and accurate 

 scientific knowledge, not yet enjoyed by mortals, it will, I think, be 

 admitted by anyone conversant with its method of operations that the 

 attainment of the truth, in regard to the geological questions presented, 

 has ever been the chief aim of those associated m the work. That the 

 Geological Survey has ever bo^ne an excellent reputation both at home 

 and abroad is due probably, first of all, to the excellent reputation of 

 its founder, the late Sir William Logan, and secondly to the fact that 

 the great majority of its staff have laboured to their utmost with hearts 

 filled with a love for the profession and with the desire to achieve great 

 results. While we may now be able to say that we have a fairly good 

 general knowledge of the geology of our country, and can dep'ct on 

 the map the lines of the several systems, and in some cases even of the 

 geological formations, yet as settlement and advancement increase, 

 new fields will be constantly opened up which will call for further de- 

 tailed examinations. The geological studv of a country eml)r.icing 

 three and a half millions of square miles mav be truly said to be i. great 

 work. The field certainly is large and the labourers are lamentably few 

 to accomplish it, and many more years must elapse before we can hope 

 to see a complete geological and topographical map of this our great 

 Dominion. The work which as members of the present staff we can- 

 not hope to see successfully accomplished will we trust be handed 

 down to our successors, who, imbued with the true scientific spirit and 

 under more favorable conditions, as the development of this great 

 country progresses, and with accommodations enlarged, and better 



