330 BULLETIN 109, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



The annual compensation suggested for each geologist was $1,500. 

 When later it developed that some of those employed could not de- 

 vote their entire time to the work, such were paid $1,200 a year. The 

 assistants were to receive $800 a year, and each geologist, zoologist, 

 botanist, and mineralogist was to receive $300 in addition to salary 

 for executing the necessary drawings, packing specimens, and for 

 the expenses of concentrating such at places convenient for trans- 

 portation to Albany. These rates of compensation seem to have 

 remained as fixed throughout the existence of the survey, although 

 naturallj?^ the total expense of &ny one department was greater some 

 years than others. The expenses for 1838, under these conditions, 

 are given on page 335. 



Work continued under the law of 1836, as above outlined, without 

 serious complications until 1840, the limit set for the life of the 

 organization. During this time annual reports were issued, and a 

 casual inspection would lead one to suppose that the survey- might 

 readily have come to an end at that period. It was found, how- 

 ever, on investigation that such was by no means the case, an in 

 vestigating committee reporting under date of April 28, 1840 : 



The condition of the survey is such that it will be utterly impossible to com 

 plete it in a manner commensurate with its object and the character of the 

 State during the time originally assigned for its completion. Several counties 

 are yet entirely unexplored and several others only partially explored. The 

 constant labor of the geologists will be required in the field until next Novem- 

 ber. The winter season following will be required for making the annual report 

 and arranging tlie collections in the building which shall be appropriated for 

 that purpose. The season following will be required for a reexamination of 

 some portions of the State, for supplying any deficiencies which shall be found 

 to exist in the collections after their arrangement, and for the preparations of 

 maps, sections and other drawings, together with the final report. The amount 

 of labor to be done in the field, the ai'rangenient of the collection, and the 

 preparation of the I'eport will render it quite impossible to complete it with 

 any degree of perfection in a shorter period of time. * * * 



From this brief sketch of the condition of the survey it is very evident to 

 your committee that an abrupt discontinuance of it at the expiration of the 

 time contemplated in the original plan would greatly injure its usefulness and 

 dishonor the whole enterprise. It is believed it will require no further appro- 

 priation to complete it, and they have therefore come to the conclusion that it 

 will be carrying out the views of the legislature which authorized the survey, 

 and meet the approbation of the people, to authorize its continuance imtil the 

 first Tuesday in January, 1S42. 



It was in accordance with this recommendation that the following 

 act was passed : 



.4n act to continue the geological Biuve.v of t'lo State, passed May 8, 1840. 



The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, 

 do enact as folloivs: 



1. The governor is hereby authorized to continue the geological survey of the 

 State, in the same manner in which it has lieretofore been conducted, until the 



