456 BULLETIN" 109, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Ill 1889 the matter of a State survey was again revived through 

 an act of the legislature entitled "An act to authorize the topo- 

 graphic and geologic survej^ of the State in cooperation with the 

 United States geological survey." This act is still in force. (See 

 Bulletin 465, U. S. Geological Survey, p. 124.) 



RHODE ISLAND. 



At a meeting of the " standing committee of the Rhode Island So- 

 ciety for the Encouragement of Domestic Industry, holden on the 

 26th day of December, A. D. 1838," the following resolution was 

 adopted: 



Resolved, That Messrs. John Pitmaa, Joseph Mauran, Christopher Rhodes, 

 and Owen Mason be a committee to memorialize the general assembly, and to 

 confer with such committee as the general assembly may appoint, to inquire 

 into the expediency of authorizing a geological and agricultural survey of this 

 State, and to adopt such other measures as they may deem expedient to carry 

 the same into effect ; and that the sum of $500 be appropriated by this society 

 in aid of this object: Provided, The State shall, at the ensuing January session, 

 appropriate the residue of the sum necessary for the purpose, and take measures 

 to carry the same into effect, under tlie immediate supervision of the State or 

 of this society. 



It was presumably in accordance with the memorial presented by 

 this committee that the appended resolution was passed by the as- 

 sembly the following year : 



Resolved, That the sum of $2,000 be appropriated and paid from the general 

 treasurj' to defray the expenses of a geological and agricultural survey of the 

 State. 



Resolved, That the same be expended under the direction of Messrs. King, 

 Simmons, Potter, of South Kingstown, Rhodes, and Luther, with such as the 

 honorable senate may add, who are hereby appointed a committee for that pur- 

 pose, to serve without compensation, which committee are authorized to draw 

 upon the treasury for such sum or sums as may be necessary, not exceeding in 

 the whole the aforesaid sum of $2,000. 



Resolved, That said committee be authorized to act in conjunction with any 

 committee that may be appointed for the same purpose by the Rhode Island 

 Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Industry. 



In accordance with this enactment a contract was entered into 

 with Dr. C. T. Jackson, in April, 1839, In May, 1840, the manuscript 

 of his report w^as submitted for publication. It does not appear that 

 he was assisted in any way other than by volunteers. 



From an examination of the report it appears that Jackson made long ex- 

 cursions out of Providence, visiting the principal towns and traversing the 

 important rock groups so as to attain general cross sections of the area.* 



» J. W. Woodwortli, Amei'lcin Geologist, August, 1897. 



