308 BULLETIN 109, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



survey of the State on the ground that it would result in most valu- 

 able discoveries in the way of mineral wealth. The legislature, how- 

 ever, took no action. In 1834 the governor returned to the subject 

 again and wrote : 



I am induced to believe that such a survey would lead to the discovery of 

 valuable luineral .and metallic resources. A small jippropriatiou will be sufficient 

 to commence witli. and I tliiuk it due to tlie State, as well as to the age in which 

 we live, that a commencement be made. 



The committee of the assembly, to whom this portion of the mes- 

 sage was referred, reported the following bill, which was passed 

 February 26, 1835 : 



To provide for a geological and mineralogical survey of the State of New Jersej. 



That the governor or person ministering the government of this State be, and 

 he is hereby, empowered to employ some suitable and scientific person or per- 

 sons to make a geological and mineralogical survey of the State, and make a 

 report thereon to the next session of tlie legislature, and that he be aiithorized 

 to draw upon the treasurer for any sum not exceeding in the whole $1,000, 

 in order to defray the expenses of the same. 



The legislature of 1836 and 1837 each made appropriations of 

 $2,000 for the continuance of the survey established under this act. 



Administi^ation. — Under the act above given, Henry D. Rogers, 

 professor of geology in the University of Pennsylvania, received the 

 appointment to make the proposed survey. He was assisted by no 

 one, so far as shown by the records. Professor Eogers entered at 

 once upon the work which was prosecuted with a systematic plan and 

 enthusiastic earnestness, his first report being submitted to Governor 

 Vroom on February 16, 1836. The plan of work adopted was an- 

 nounced to "lay down upon tlie map of the State (Gordon's) a series 

 of straight lines, five in number, so drawn as to cross nearly at the 

 same angle all the various formations. The regions adjacent to these 

 lines, embracing a width of several miles on both sides of each, were 

 then selected for more particular and detailed examination; and the 

 extent and boundaries of the several formations, as far as determin- 

 able, were delineated upon these portions of the map. The five geo- 

 logical sections or profiles thus surveyed embrace all the strata and 

 afford a general insight into the principal features of the stratification 

 of the State." 



The five profiles laid down and studied were : First, a line of cotm- 

 try extending across Bergen and Sussex counties, from the vicinity 

 of Fort Lee on the Hudson River, to near Dingmans Ferry on the 

 Delaware; second, a tract extending from the seashore, in Mon- 

 mouth, to the Water Gap of the Delaware in "Warren: third, n 

 tract extending from the bend of the Delaware at Easton, parallel 



