Seventeenth Annual meeting. 53 



given confidence in this decision, and there is no longer waste of time or capital in such 

 work. 



In the same connection, the limits and extent of the water-line groups have been de- 

 termined, and tli is has given rise to a very extensive and profitable industry at localities 

 along almost the entire length of the State — from the Hudson to the Niagara river. 



The sources of durable building stones bave been indicated by the determination of 

 the limits of certain geological formations. 



The search for coal in the block states, in the Hudson valley and localities in the 

 interior of the State, formerly a prolific source of expenditure and disappointment, lias 

 ceased among all intelligent men since the relations of the true coal formations to the 

 rocks of New York were determined by the geological survey. Much time and money 

 were formerly expended in fruitless undertakings for the mining of coal. Since the set- 

 tlement of the State it has been estimated that more money has been spent in this than 

 in the entire cost of the geological survey and its publications. 



I may perhaps be allowed to conclude this short statement of the benefits of the sur- 

 vey, by quoting some paragraphs from a report made to the Committee on Public Edu- 

 cation of the New York Assembly in 1870: 



"In the estimates of the products of the geological survey there is one element that cannot bo 

 given in figures — this is the knowledge which is the result of the survey, and which, if not everywhere 

 •evidenced in positive action, can in some degree be estimated by its negative effects. Intelligent people 

 •can no longer be found to form companies and expend thousands of dollars in the Hudson or Mohawk 

 valleys, or in the southern tier of counties, in search for coal in the block states. People no longer 

 i>ore wells in the Medina sandstone in search of productive brines, nor look in the Catskill mountains 

 for granite. 



" The limits of our great iron-bearing formations are well defined and fully understood by all in- 

 telligent men, and neither iron ore, lead or silver are sought as formerly in the broad agricultural belts 

 ■south of the great limestone terrace. There is a general confidence in the result of the survey, coming 

 from the conclusion that science has given fixed views and opinions which no assertion of empiricism 

 •can set aside. 



" Before the completion of the geological survey of the State of New York, there was not a single 

 text-book upon geology for the use of our schools. The many thousands of copies now in use, all 

 teaching the same facts, attest the value of the geological survey. 



" If the treasurer of the State does not show the credit of these text-books, the authors and book- 

 sellers have profited, and the students of our educational institutions have from this source become 

 .more intelligent citizens of the commonwealth. 



"The knowledge resulting from the geological survey of New York, and its language and nomen- 

 clature, are everywhere recognized, and have become more intelligently incorporated into the scien- 

 tific literature of our civilized people." 



I might go on almost indefinitely with statements of the advantages which have re- 

 sulted from the geological survey of the State of New York, but I believe I have said 

 •enough to answer the object of the inquiry. 



PENNSYLVANIA. 



By an act which passed the Legislature of Pennsylvania in 1874, the sum of $35,000 

 ■was thereby annually appropriated for three years to conduct a geological survey of 

 that State. In 1876 an additional appropriation of $15,000 was made. For the year 

 L877 an appropriation of $50,000 was made. Again, the sum of Sl50,000 was appropri- 

 ated. Subsequently there was an appropriation of $125,000 for this work, provided, 

 however, that not more than 850,000 should be expended in any one year; and provided 

 further, that the said survey shall be completed, as far as the field-work is concerned, 

 by the end of the calendar year 1883. In June, lS8.'i, $5(1,00(1 was again appropriated, 

 for the continuance of the survey of the anthracite coal region of the State. A commit- 

 tee was also appointed to examine into the manner and efficiency of the work of the 

 <econd geological survey, and report. The report is published in Part 5, Legislative 

 Documents. (See above-named pamphlet laws in State Library; you will there find all 

 information that can be obtained on this subject.) Total appropriations have amounted 



