Seventeenth annual Meeting. 51 



ing the next ten years will be sufficient to cover the expenses of it. In return for this 

 outlay, we cannot estimate in dollars and cents the value to the State. We have the 

 evidence of the most prosperous States where surveys have licen made, that it has linn 

 of untold value to them. It is a work of great importance, benefiting all the citizens 

 alike, bringing prosperity, building up and developing the State and publishing the ad- 

 vantages that we possess, now hidden from view; saving thousands of dollars to people 

 who without any knowledge of what we have, engage in enterprises that may or may 

 not be a success. The useless waste of money would be prevented. With a geological 

 survey, almost a certainty in regard to success would be secured. 



If you want to mine for coal, you will know where the depth and quality can lie 

 found; if for lead, zinc and other metals, reference to the geological survey will tell you ; 

 questions as to mineral waters, building materials, etc., will be fully answered. At the 

 present time, there is considerable interest manifested in regard to the sinking of artesian 

 wells in the western part of the State, which cannot be done until a geological survey 

 has heen made, and to delay now would be hindering the growth and development of 

 our State. We believe it would be for our best interests. 



In order to get the experience of other States that have had geological surveys, I 

 mailed to the Secretary of each of the States in the Union a number of questions, as 

 follows : 



Has a geological survey of your State been made ? 



If so, when was first appropriation, and what amount ? 



Has appropriation been made each year since? 



How much have been the total appropriations? 



What practical benefit have the people derived from it? 



Mention some of the industries that are in operation which have derived their origin 

 and success from the geological survey. 



Any other information that you may have that will aid us, please give. 



Replies have been received from twenty-nine States. Those not heard from belong 

 to extreme South and new States in the West. We received the following, which I will 

 read to you in regular order: 



MAINE. 



The State of Maine has had no geological survey since 1861, and then it was but a 

 partial survey, under the direction of the Board of Agriculture. A similar survey, 

 under the same direction, was made in 1839. The reports made at that time have been 

 exhausted. 



NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



A statement received in reply to inquiry of March 10th, 1884, shows that a geological 

 survey of the State of New Hampshire has been made, and June 24th, 1839, there w r as 

 an appropriation of §2,000 to carry on the work of surveying ; this amount was to be 

 paid annually for three years. The total appropriations have been upwards of $60,000. 



A full history of the geological survey of this State can be found by referring to vol. 

 1, Geology of New Hampshire, by Hitchcock, (Concord, Edward Jenks, State Printer,) 

 1874, in our State Library. 



VERMONT. 



Vermont has had a geological survey. The first appropriation was made in or about 

 Kill; they then appropriated S2,500 a year. In answer to the question concerning the 

 benefit this survey has been to the people, the report says: Our marble and granite in- 

 terests have been promoted extensively. We have now extensive quarries, employing 

 thousands of men, which before were unsuccessful, and much money was lost, as the lay 

 of the limestone had not been determined, and work was a subject of guess. 



