100 JOURNAL OF THE 



Governor Hammond transmitting his report for 1844* throws 

 some light on his operations dnring this the first year of his con- 

 nection with the survev : 



In accordance with my instinictions, I hastened early in the spring, with all 

 possil)le despatch, to tiie upper portion of the State, there to commence my 

 labors. But before proceedin*^ to a minute and systematic exploration, it was 

 necessary that I should make myself acquainted with the K^^neral geological 

 character of the region to be examined, for without such knowledge, I couhl 

 scarcely know what to look for, and in science, it is a maxim that "what is not 

 looked for is seldom found," By tracing a number of sections, at right angles 

 with the general direction of the strata, and by determining carefully the 

 strike of the rocks |)assed over, and by connecting these observations, I was 

 enabled to determine, with some accuracy, the boundaries of the different 

 formations. 



While making this geological reGonnolssance of the '' hill coun- 

 try'' of the State (the region of crystalline rocks) many obser- 

 vations were made as to the occurrence, distribution and extent 

 of various ores and other minerals and rocks of economic value^ 

 and as to the character of the soils. Many specimens of ores, 

 minerals and soils were collected for future analysis. Special 

 attention was also given to the gold mines of the region. 



During the two years following (1845 and 1846) Mr. Tuomey 

 extended his explorations into evQYy portion of the State, in the 

 *'hill country" continuing the work as indicated above, while in 

 the '' low coujitry " or coastal plain region, he devoted himself 

 mainly to a study of the stratigraphy and paleontology of the 

 recent geological formations, his predecessor, Mr. Ruffin, having 

 already investigated with considerable thorouorhness the marls 

 and soils of this latter reo-ion. 



In his studies of the fossil forn^s found so abundantly in the 

 coastal })lain region of South Carolina Mr. Tuomey had the vol- 

 unteer assistance of Professor F. S. Holmes, of Charleston, and of 

 several other occasional collectors, and also of Professor Louis 

 Agassiz, who visited Cliarleston in 1846, and who, during the ieA^ 

 years following, took great interest in and rendered great assist- 



*Report on the Geological and Agiienltural Survey of South Carolina, 1844, p. III. 



