98 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



about science, cares nothing about science — sees no connection between 

 science 8.nd the future development of the State and is afraid to vote an extra 

 dollar even in a worthy cause for fear that he will be snowed under at the 

 next election. The Geologist or other scientist who is dependent solely upon 

 })olitical appropriations to do good work in the State of Indiana has indeed 

 a rocky road to travel. 



The Geological Reports of David Dale Owen. 



Based upon the discoveries which he made during his two years' term of 

 office, Dr. Owen issued two reports, addressed "To the Honorable, the Legis- 

 lature of Indiana." The first of 38 pages was published at Indianapolis in 

 1838 and entitled "Report of a Geological Reconnoissance of the State of 

 Indiana made in the year 1837 in conformity to an order of the Legislature." 

 The second of 54 pages, published in 1839, was entitled "Continuation of 

 Report of a Geological Reconnoissance of the State of Indiana made in .the 

 year 1838 in conformity to an order of the Legislature." The first of these 

 reports was reprinted verbatim in 1853 and was revised, enlarged to 69 pages 

 and again reprinted in 1859. The second one was reprinted wilh very few 

 changes in 1859. These reprints on the dates mentioned were ])robably due 

 to the fact that in 1852 an attempt was made to reinstate a geological survey, 

 while in 1859 it was renewed for a brief period. Although Dr. Owen fully 

 realized the great value of paleontology in determining the relative age and 

 consequent nature and position of the stratified formations, he showed in 

 these two brief works, in which are outlined for the first time the principal rock 

 formations of the area comprising Indiana, that he had the right idea of what 

 the writer considers the true functions of a State Geologist — viz., the searching 

 out and making known the undeveloped mineral resources of the State. In 

 other words, he laid especial emphasis upon the economic features of his survey 

 and did not, as did some of his successors, devote his time largely to the study 

 and exploitation of the fossils of the regions which he covered. 



In the introduction to his first report this feature of his work is si^t forth 

 in the two following paragraphs: 



"The science of Geology, of comparatively modern (kite, is now univ(^rsally 

 conceded to be one, not of mere curious inquiry-, but of vast jjractical utility. 

 It indicates, not only to the closest philosopher a ))oundless field of con- 

 jecture, whereon to erect theories of creation and systems of the world; but 

 to the manufacturer, the raw material whence mineral riches ar(> abundantly 

 derived, and to the farmer, the means of improving soils that nature seems to 

 have disfavored." 



"I have considered it my duty, while surveying a country as new as ours, 

 to remember that a State just settling is like a young man starting in life, 

 whom it behooves to secure to himself a competency before he indulges in 

 unproductive fancies. I have considered it the most imi)ortant object to search 

 out the hidden resources of the State, and open new fields of enterprise to her 



