ELISHA MITCHELL SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 9 



The general j)urpo8e of the survey was the investigation of 

 the geologv, natural history and natural resources of the State. 

 But among these, the ol)ject which stood out more prominently 

 and was more influential in leading to the establishment and 

 maintenance of the survey, was the development of the mineral, 

 minino; and agricultural interests of the State. 



As to the methods of operation adopted by the survey, only 

 general statements can be made. The larger part of the work 

 of the survey, in the field, office and chemical laboratory, was 

 done by Professor Emmons and E. Emmons, Jr. Professor 

 Emmons was the geologist, chemist, mineralogist, paleontologist 

 and agriculturist of the survey. The assistants employed, except 

 in the case of Dr. Curtis, were general assistants rather than 

 specialists. 



The work of the survey was mainly in connection with the 

 general geology, mining, agriculture and paleontology. In the 

 field work these were given prominence according to their rela- 

 tive importance in the regions being examined. In topography, 

 practically nothing was attempted. In botany and zoology. Dr. 

 Curtis' work appears to have consisted mainly of the writing up 

 for publication the results of his observations previously made. 



In general geology, the formations east of the Blue Ridge 

 appear to h;jve been examined with considerable care, as to out- 

 lines, lithological and stratigraphical characteristics, and fossil 

 remains (where these occur). Many results of these examina- 

 tions were published in the reports for 1856 and 1858, but many 

 of them were lost in the form of MSS. or field notes. In the 

 region west of the Blue Ridge only a partial reconnoisance 

 appears to have been made, the results of which were nearly all 

 lost in the form of MSS. or field notes. In paleontology, a num- 

 ber of both vertehrate and invertebrate fossil remains were dis- 

 covered and described from the eocene, miocene and cretaceous 

 marl pits and river bluffs of the eastern region ; as were also the 

 remains of several interesting species of vertebrates, and a rich 

 fossil flora from the Deep and Dan River coal fields of the older 

 mesozoic. (See Emmons' N. C. Reports for 1856 and 1858, 



