74 



THE WORK OF THE STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



Frank \\'. DeW'olf. 



One is likely to think of our state as essentially agricultural, 

 but Illinois ranks third in mineral production and the latest 

 complete returns, those for 1907, value our output at more 

 than $152,000,000. The State now ranks second in the produc- 

 tion of coal, second for oil, fourth for clay products, and well 

 toward the top of the list for a number of other materials. 

 This creditable showing is nevertheless a mere beginning 

 in comparison with our possibilities. 



The study of our geology and mineral resources was au- 

 thorized by a legislative act of 1851 and for the first six 

 years was in charge of Dr. J. C. Norwood. After him Dr. 

 A. H. Worthen directed the work till its discontinuance and 

 the establishment of the State ^Museum of Natural History 

 in 1877, of which he was made curator. The present Survey 

 was created in 1905 to operate under the direction of a com- 

 mission composed of the Governor, the President of the 

 State University and a third member, Dr. T. C. Chamberlin, 

 President of this Academy. Dr. Bain, director of the Sur- 

 vey, regrets that he can not be here to speak of the scope and 

 progress of the work. 



The Geological Survey was created to assist in the eco- 

 nomical development of our resources. Its functions are 

 broad enough to give it a part in the solution of all public 

 problems into which a knowledge of geology enters. The 

 finding of adequate public water supply, of materials for use 

 on the public highways, of limestone suitable for use on 

 acid soils, the regulation of our rivers and reclamation of 

 undrained lands, bettering of conditions in our coal mines, 

 the better direction of exploration for oil, coal and our other 

 buried resources, — with all these problems, the State Survey is 



