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properly conducted until the condition and quality of the 

 soil are accurately ascertained, and that which is valuable 

 be improved, and that -which is useless avoided. In no 

 way can we avoid a wasteful expenditure of money in 

 exploring the mining and mineral wealth of the land, ex- 

 cept by such an investigation into the geological formation 

 where that wealth lies, as to reveal its exact condition. 

 To a scientific knowledge of the mineral deposits of one 

 section of our country, and to a scientific application of 

 enquiry to them, do we owe the most successful mining 

 enterprise of our day. In the early days of copper min- 

 ing at Lake Superior, vast sums of money were wasted 

 through ignorance, and large amounts of property were 

 abandoned from insufficient exploration of their true 

 value ; but in our day scientific research guides the miners 

 on to almost fabulous results. For the business prosperity 

 of our state, therefore, he was in favor of the proposed 

 survey, and doubted not that the Legislature would look 

 with favor upon the proposition. And remembering that 

 upon such enterprises, more than upon mere material 

 endeavor, depends the true reputation of a state, in the 

 eyes of all civilized people, he could not believe that 

 Massachusetts would be backward in taking her stand 

 among the most enlightened, as she long had among the 

 most energetic and thriving commonwealths. 



After some further discussion, a committee was ap- 

 pointed, consisting of Messrs. F. YV. Putnam, A. S. 

 Packard and E. S. Morse, to prepare a memorial to the 

 Legislature, embodying the views of the Institute, and 

 to report the same for action at the next meeting. 



Hugh Elder, of Salem, Francis H. Johnson and George 

 W.W. Dove, of Audover, were elected resident members. 



