GEOLOGICAL, AND NATURAI. HISTORY SURVEYS. 395 



The delay in organizing the first geological corps was great, and 

 its members did not begin field work until the summer of 1837 was 

 half over. What was accomplished during the year was mainly in 

 the way of reconnoissance and in preparation for more efficient work 

 during the coming season. 



January 17, 1838, Governor Vance received the first annual report 

 of the geological corps and transmitted the same to the general as- 

 sembly. By resolution it was agreed that 5,000 copies should be 

 printed for the use of the general assembly, and that 1,000 be put 

 into the hands of the geologists for distribution to scientific societies 

 and gentlemen in various parts of the country; and that 1,000 copies 

 extra of the geological queries, which have for their object to elicit 

 the local knowledge of individuals, be published for distribution to 

 the people by the geologists when engaged in field duty. 



The report is a small octavo volume of 134 pages, with map and 

 sections. It embraces reports of Doctors blather, Hildreth. and 

 Kirtland, Professor Briggs, and Colonel Whittlesey; geological 

 queries addressed to those interested; a glossary of terms used; and 

 a table of contents. The report reflects great credit upon the corps, 

 shadowing forth as a beginning the greater results to come. 



The work of the year was limited to the eastern and southeastern 

 parts of the State, and extended but little beyond the coal measures 

 at any point. To accomplish the work rapidly and efficiently, dis- 

 tinct departments were created. Doctor Hildreth had charge of the 

 paleontological department; Doctor Kirtland, of the Ohio Medical 

 College at Cincinnati, of botany and zoology ; Professor Briggs and 

 Mr. Foster of the field work between tlie Scioto and Hockhocking 

 Rivers; Colonel Whittlesey of the topographical department. 



To facilitate the progress of the survey certain querries were pro- 

 pounded to the people of the State, with the hope that every one 

 interested would contribute such aid as lay within his power, inas- 

 much as the local knowledge of individuals may expedite the w^ork of 

 the board. 



In the early part of the 3'ear 1838 a resolution was passed requir- 

 ing the geological board to report to the house whether any member 

 of the corps had purchased land in consequence of information de- 

 rived from examinations made under State authority; also whether 

 others had located such lands upon their advice, with the amount and 

 location of these lands in each case. Doctor Mather replied that 

 700 acres in the aggregate had been purchased. He himself had be- 

 come owner of 500 acres in Jackson County, as a residence, but its 

 mineral resources had not been developed by the survey so far as 

 known. Furthermore, when anything of value was found upon land, 



