162 BULLETIN 109, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



logical departments; S. W. Higgins, topographer and draftsman; 

 Columbus C. Douglass, subassistant; Behi Hubbard, subassistant; 

 William P. Smith, subassistant in charge of mechanical zoology. 



An appendix embraces a large number of questions addressed tt» 

 proprietors of lands, answers to which are desired by the survey. 



SECOND YEAR OF THE SURVEY, 18 38. 



This report, presented to the legislature of 1838, led to the pas- 

 sage of an act, approved March 24, 1838, " To provide for the im- 

 provement of certain State salt springs," directing the State geologist 

 to proceed to make explorations by boring at one or more of tha 

 springs, and appropriating $3,000 to defray expenses. This legis- 

 lature also revised the organization of the survey and enlarged its 

 'resources. By an act approved March 23, 1838, the former law was 

 repealed and a new organization provided which should consist of 

 four departments: 1, Geological and mineralogical; 2, zoological; 

 3, botanical; 4, topographical. Each department was to have its 

 head and carry on independent Avork; but all the others were to 

 report to the chief geologist. " Minor assistants " were also pro- 

 vided in the several departments. Of the specimens collected one 

 series was to belong to the State, and 16 other series, if possible, were 

 to be placed in the hands of the board of regents to be distributed 

 to the university and its branches; but the university was to pay 

 $4,000 to the State before receiving the benefit of this act. The ap- 

 propriation was $12,000 for each year between March 1, 1838, and 

 March 1, 1844. The State geologist was to receive for salary, $2,000; 

 the zoologist, $1,500; the botanist, $1,500; the topographer, $1,000. 

 Each minor assistant was to be paid $800, but the chief assistant of 

 the zoologist, $1,000. For contingent expenses a balance of $2,G00 

 remained. 



Under this organization the following appointments were made: 

 Douglass Houghton, State geologist; Abram Sager, zoologist; John 

 Wright, botanist; Sylvester W. Higgins, topographer: Columbus C. 

 Douglass, Bela Hubbard, geological assistants. 



It appears that the " practical " instincts of a certain portion of 

 the legislature began already to inquire cid hono? A resolution was 

 passed calling upon the State geologist " for information as to the 

 direct benefits which may be anticipated to the agricultural interests 

 of the State from the completion of the geological survey." To this 

 Doctor Houghton replied, under date of March 2, 1839, grouping 

 the "direct benefits" under five heads: 1. In disseminating knowl- 

 edge of the soils. 2. In showing how to correct deficiencies. 3. In 

 bringing to light mineral manures. 4. In accumulating information 



