238 Address before the Association of American. Geologists. 
stantly employed in the examination of this vast region, under 
the patronage of the state governments or of that of the Union. 
In three or four of the states, the surveys are for the present sus- 
pended; not, however, froma conviction of their being useless, 
but from peculiar circumstances. In Massachusetts, New York, 
Ohio, and Michigan, zoological and botanical surveys are con- 
nected with the geological ; in Maryland, Ohio and Michigan, 
there is a topographical department ;—and on these various sub- 
jects several valuable reports have already appeared, which this 
is not the proper place to notice. 
I ought also to mention here that the British provinces of New 
Brunswick and Nova Scotia, have been geologically examined by 
Dr. Gessner, who has made reports. I am credibly informed, 
also, that the governor general of Canada, will recommend 
strongly to the House of Assembly at their next session, to order 
a geological survey of that territory, 
_ Another very important feature of most of these surveys, is the 
chemical department. In the New York survey, one gentleman 
devotes himself to it exclusively. In some other states, also, as 
in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maine and New Hampshire, laborato- 
ries for the sole purpose of analyzing the substances discovered, 
are fitted up, and one or two chemists are employed in them 
through the year. The number of analyses already executed in 
these establishments is immense, amounting to several thousands, 
and when they are all published, it will be seen that they have @ 
most important bearing, not only in an chopantegls but also in a 
scientific point of view. 
The annual reports have been ‘cntieni chiefly to patients 
geology ;—but it was understood from the commencement, that 
careful attention should be given to the scientific geology of the 
regions examined, and that the details should be given in the final 
reports. An immense mass of materials must now be im 
hands of the gentlemen concerned in the surveys; and we may 
anticipate from their publication, most interesting disclosures t€ 
Speeting the geology of this country. Then too, the extensive 
and complete collections of our rocks, fossils, minerals and soils, 
which have been made and will be deposited in the capitals of 
the states, will prove an invaluable treasure. Another important 
result, » cana Sen ome consummated, will 
a alae 8 map of the whole of 
