Lesley.] 5o |_ Feb . 21, 



false pritle about it. He never acted or spoke as a savant. He did not in 

 the least know how to speak to the public de haut en bas. He went 

 straight in, everywhere, and at all times, for spreading the useful knowl- 

 edge he had accumulated, much of it by his own discoveries, pro bono 

 publico. 



Mr. Ashburner was educated at Friends' Central School, the Philadel- 

 phia High School and the Towne Scientific School of the University of 

 Pennsylvania. While an undergraduate, he was one of a party who 

 made a survey of Delaware river and bay for Government purposes. 

 His special course in the University was. civil engineering, and he was 

 graduated first in his class. He began his professional career in the ser- 

 vice of the United States Light House Board. The year following the 

 installation of the Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania (1874) he 

 was commissioned as one of the aids to Mr. Dewees, Assistant Geologist 

 for the Juniata River district. Mr. Dewees confined his attention to the 

 fossil ore beds, leaving Mr. Ashburner and Mr. Charles E. Billin to make 

 a survey and contour map of the south slope of Jack's mountain and the 

 little valleys and ridges between it and the river. The excellence of this 

 map proved the value of the severe drill they had had in the drawing 

 room of the geological department of the Towne School, and the admira- 

 ble instruction of Prof. Haupt. Their cross-sections at Logan's Gap, 

 Lewistown, McGeesville, Mount Union, etc., published in " Report of Pro- 

 gress F, " in 1878, arc among the most perfect and beautiful works of that 

 kind in the literature of our science in this or any other country. 



The same kind of work was afterwards carried on by them south-westward 

 into Huntingdon county, as far as Orbisonia and Three Springs. The 

 beautiful maps and sections of this Aughwick division of the district, and 

 the accurate discussion of the cross-faults at those two places, so thor- 

 oughly established their reputation as field geologists, that separate dis- 

 tricts were assigned to them as independent Assistant Geologists on the 

 survey ; to Mr. Billin, the complicated region of the Seven Mountains, in 

 Snyder, Union, Lycoming, Centre and East Huntingdon counties ; and 

 to Mr. Ashburner, Sideling hill and East Broad Top Coal basin, in West 

 Huntingdon county. Here again his maps and sections showed that he 

 combined the qualities of geologist and artist in the highest degree. 



In 1876, he was commissioned to survey McKean county with the Brad- 

 ford oil region ; and afterwards Elk, Cameron, and Forest counties. Two 

 years were spent in this work, ably assisted by Mr. Arthur W. Sheafer. 

 His report on McKean with many illustrations, including a complete con- 

 lour map of the county, was published, as "Report of Progress R," in 

 1880 ; and his second report on the other three counties (RR) in 1885, 

 being delayed by his survey of the anthracite region and the necessity for 

 revisions and additions which he deemed it necessary to make himself. 



In 1880, he was commissioned to plan the long-delayed survey of the 

 anthracite coal fields of Eastern Pennsylvania. His plans were approved, 

 and that survey was placed in his hands. He himself selected his corps of 



