Oti the Imporl.a7ice of Geological Information, 8fc. 133 



then, to be derived from the detailed geological examiuation of 

 mountains, are numerous. 



If any chain should be productive of useful metals, or minerals, 

 we may investigate all the branches of the system it belongs to, 

 with a view to trace its continuities. 



In the establishment of boundaries, indestructible and unvary- 

 ing monuments present themselves to the geologist, which escape 

 the attention of the engineer, if he does not know how to avail 

 himself of them. It cannot be denied, that the expense and incon- 

 venience, consequent upon the light manner in which the north- 

 ern boundary was settled, in the treaty of peace in 1783, would 

 have been greatly avoided, had the disputed territory received a 

 rigorous geological examination. From the documents which 

 have hitherto been published, it does not appear that geological 

 data have been much relied on, for the adjustment of this impor- 

 tant question, which is not yet settled. It is greatly to be desired, 

 that in the re-surveys which are yet to be effected, before the 

 delivery of the respective territories is definitely made, that these 

 considerations be not overlooked. 



There are other branches of this subject which deserve the 

 attention of that estimable officer, Col. Abert, of the topogra- 

 phical bureau, to whose department information of this kind 

 properly belongs. The details of our physical geography are in- 

 complete : many inaccuracies have crept into the only accounts 

 we have of the mountains, table lands, and lakes, in the interior 

 of the United States. Their respective levels above tide water, 

 have, in most instances, been the result of estimates, rather than 

 of admeasurements. 



As it may be supposed, that there is not a cantonment under 

 the U. S., which does not possess one or more officers, regularly 

 trained as military engineers, all these errors might be gradual- 

 ly corrected, if those officers were to avail themselves of the rare 

 opportunities which many of them possess, being quartered in 

 situations almost inaccessible to others. The contributions which 

 they could make to physical geography, would form an important 

 addition to our knowledge of the earth's surface, independently 

 of their great practical uses. The general elevation of table 

 lands, the true height of mountains and hills, the exact level at 

 which the great western lakes arc found above tide water, are 

 important branches of the geology of the U. States. In the 



