GEOLOGICAL AND NATUKAL HISTORY SURVEYS. 371 



done. Doctor Emmons was a man of wide training, and brought all 

 his varied knowledge into use. He was geologist, mineralogist, 

 chemist, agriculturist, and, to a certain extent, paleontologist. His 

 assistants, with the exception of the botanist, were not specialists 

 along any lines, but simply worked vmder his immediate direction. 

 Naturally, with such varied duties, the general work of the survey 

 suffered. 



No topographical Avork was attempted except that in making one 

 or more geological sections of proportional heights, a series of baro- 

 metric observations were made along the line of the proposed sec- 

 tions, as w^as done along a line across the mountain region of the State. 

 from the valley of the Yadkin to the Tennessee line on the route of 

 the French Broad River. No work in botany or zoology w^as carried 

 on by the survey except tliat done by Doctor Curtis. This con- 

 sisted mainly in writing up the results of observations previously 

 made. The Avork done by the survey in both the field and office was 

 chiefly in connection with the general geology, and the mining and 

 agricultural interests of the State, In the field work each of these 

 three departments was kept in view according to its importance in 

 the region visited. In the eastern region ol the Stale, wliere there 

 are no mines, the observations related mainlj^ to the agriculture 

 and paleontology; in the middle region, to the agriculture, mines, 

 paleontology (of the coal fields) and genei-al geology; and in the 

 extreme western region, the same excepting the paleontology. 



The work in agriculture included the making of observations as to 

 the nature and fertility of the soil and tlie crops [)roduce(l, collect- 

 ing specimens of soils for analysis, etc. These specimens were sent to 

 the laboratory of the survey at Ealeigh. In soiiie cases, in addition 

 to the sample of soil, specimeiis of the plants growing thereon were 

 collected and both subjected to chemical analyses. 



The examination of fossils, identification of known species and de- 

 scription of new species was all done by Professor Ennnons. Draw- 

 ings of fossils, maps, and geological sections were made by E. Em- 

 mons, jr. The chemical work was done mainly by Professor Emmons 

 in person, as already nottnl. in a private laboratory connected with his 

 residence in Raleigh. 



During the latter years of the survey (1861-1864) the attention of 

 the geologist and his assistants was turned to the manufacture of 

 inunitions of war, especially fulminate of mercury, for tlie use of 

 the State military forces. This fact and the ill health of Doctor 

 Emmons caused the proper work of the survey to be pj-actically 

 given n\) during this time. 



