212 ILLINOIS STATE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



The present biennium has seen the completion of a 

 drainage survey of the State under the supervision of the 

 State Geological Survey. The information thus collected and 

 published as bulletin 42 presents a remarkable picture of 

 agricultural opportunity in this State. More than 

 1,100,000 acres of bottom lands are subject to overflow 

 and in consequence, has merely a nominal value at present. 

 Yet these same lands, v^here reclaimed by feasible drain- 

 age projects, vv^ill add millions of dollars to the wealth of 

 the State. 



Although Illinois is considered primarily an agricultural 

 state, the annual mineral production ranges well up into 

 millions of dollars. Coal, clay, cement, oil and building 

 stone are a few of the raw products present here in abun- 

 dance and their economical and efficient exploitation is due 

 in large part to the scientific work conducted by the Illi- 

 nois State Geological Survey. 



