390 PROCEEDINGS OF THE IXDIAXA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



Soon after the adoption of this constitution the legislature established 

 the department of Geologj' and appointed David Dale Owen to the office of 

 state geologist. Mr. OAven was the son of Robert Owen one time owner 

 of New Harmony. He had done work for Kentuckj^ and other states; was 

 a brilliant man and had a thorough knowledge of the geology of the Missis- 

 sippi valley. A younger brother was appointed his assistant and the two under- 

 took a preliminary geologic survey of the state. Among other things they 

 investigated the soils in different parts of the state, comparing the chemical 

 analj'ses of the virgin soils, as well as the subsoils, with those which had be- 

 come poor from croppings. Thus they laid the foundation for the great fer- 

 tilizer industry- of the state, and began to educate the farmers to the idea that 

 plant food, once removed with the crop, must be returned to the soil if the 

 latter is to retain its original strength. In transmitting his report of the 

 analyses of these soils Robert Peter, a chemist from Lexington, Ky., wrote as 

 follows: "Chemical study of the soil and of plants and animals, has demon- 

 strated that certain elements, necessarj^ to vegetable and animal develop- 

 ment, are gradually consumed from the soil in the crop. * * * The mineral con- 

 stituents * * * are found in relatively small proportion and must be carefully 

 husbanded and restored to the soil in order to maintain constant fertility. Such 

 a process * * * Avould be the perfection of agriculture. And such a system 

 is perfectly practicable in an agricultural community Avhere the chemical 

 nature of the soils, of manures and of vegetable and animal products have 

 been studied and understood. The path of improvement, therefore lies in 

 this direction, and it is the dutj' of our enterprising farmers to prepare them- 

 selves to improve it, bj' the scientific study of thi'ir profession; and of states 

 and communities liberally to aid j)rogress in this pathway." He then con- 

 cludes as follows: "The fundamental study in this relation is that of the 

 chemical nature of the soil; a study which is yet in its infancy, but which may 

 be matured by judicious patronage into a branch of science of extensive 

 utility." Such a message, from such a source, must have carried conviction 

 to many a farmer whose soil gave poorer returns with each succeeding year. 

 And its influence, consciously or unconsciously, must have persisted even 

 to the present. 



Tlie OAvens also began a study of the coal regions of the state, marking 

 their l)oundaries in the counties Avhere coal Avas to l)e found. To some ex- 

 tent they classified the coals on the basis of their best use and compared them 

 Avith coals from other sources. They pointed out beds of i)aying iron ore 

 and the quarries of limestone Asith Avhich to flux it, and thus started the iron 

 industry of the state. This, as now knoAvn, is not large in comparison Avith 

 the present sources of supph', but at that time it Avas a most important 

 addition to the resources of the commonwealth. From their knowledge 

 of the geology of this and adjoining states these men were able to tell the 

 people Avhat other A^aluable minerals might lie beneath the surface in paying 

 quantities and Avhat ones, if found at all, would be only in small pockets 

 brought in by glacial action. 



