108 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



clayey matter. Tliis he says, "will undoubtedly, some day be done." In- 

 stead of transporting these marls we now gi'ind very finely the Mitchell and 

 allied limestones and utilize this ground material as a mineral manure. 

 He stated that "most of the lowest beds of the Lower Silurian are vastly rich 

 in fossils, a list and drawings of which can be furnished for publication, if 

 required." 



In this coimection it may be remarked that the first edition of the 1837 

 report shows that he submitted with the text four charts and five plates of 

 fossils characterizing the different rock formations. Following out the policy 

 which I have mentioned, the legislature, to which he submitted his report, 

 neither requested the list and drawings of fossils which he offered, nor 

 authorized the publication of the charts. A colored geological map of the 

 State which he prepared to accompany the second report was deposited with- 

 out publication in the State Library, and all trace of both it and the charts is 

 now lost. 



Near the close of his second report, Dr. Owen states that he "considered 

 the margin of the coal formation the mineral region of the State, and the 

 one which, before all others, demands a minute topographical, geological 

 survej', in order, 



1. To lay down on the map accurately the lioiindary of the coal forma- 

 tion in all its meanders. 



2. To examine thoroughly the saliferous rocks, and determine their 

 exact thickness, extent, inclination and superposition. 



3. To discover, if possible, new deposits of iron ore, which seem to be so 

 frequent in this region. 



4. To ascertain the extent of the freestones of this district wliicli might 

 be suitable for buildings. 



5. To ascertain the number, thickness, relative superposition, equiva- 

 lency and spaces which the various beds occupy relatively to each other, 

 and the localities where each bed crops out on the surface. 



6. To make observations on the exact dip of the coal measures, a dis- 

 covery of which would indicate the depth at which any particular seam might 

 be reached by shafts sunk in any part of the coal measures. 



7. To endeavor to discover the most valuable beds of fire clays, potter's 

 clays, grits and alum slates Avhich appear to be common in these localities. 



8. To collect and determine what maj' bo the most characteristic fossils, 

 not only of each system and formation, but of the different members of each 

 group; an investigation which is intimately connected wdth the discovery of 

 mineral wealth; especialh' with the discover^' of workable coal beneath the 

 drainage of the country. 



9. To determine in what this formation agrees, and in Avhat it differs from 

 equivalent formations in other countries." 



He ended his second report as follows: 



"Although we maj' not be able to boast of the gold mines of Georgia and 

 the Carolinas, or of as great a variety of metallic ores as Missouri and Tennes- 



