Address before the Association of American Geolovists. 239 
the United States ;—for it can hardly be doubted, that surveys 
will be soon ordered in the comparatively few states that yet re- 
main unexamined ;—or if they should not, if I form a right es- 
timate of the spirit that actuates American geologists, a work of 
such importance will not be left incomplete. But'the liberal feel- 
ing that has led so many of our state governments, within a few 
years, to do so much for geology, forbids the idea that any of this 
work will be left for volunteer labor. I cannot but feel, that 
the liberal governmental patronage which geology has of late 
received among us, and the fact that this patronage has come 
from all classes in the community, should make us justly proud of 
the enlarged views and extensive knowledge displayed by our 
countrymen. I speak advisedly, when I say, that probably our 
favorite science is now in this country twenty years in advance of 
what it would have been, if left to individual efforts. 
ie us now enquire how sant of American geology has been 
loped by all the efforts that have been made, with and with- 
n ents upon wh: — me fit 3 eh = 7 I I le noes 
fall far short of the actast ‘mowledge that is possessed on his 
mre by individuals. 
“The primary rocks of this oeertionney: enh senitniond un- 
Stratified, correspond so exactly with those in other parts of the 
world, as to be easily identified. For the most ‘part, also, they 
compose the principal axes of our extended chains of mountains, 
Thus, we find a range of these rocks, commencing in Alabama, 
and extending northeasterly, in a belt from eighty toone hundred 
miles broad, to New York; and thence through New England, 
Seenpying nearly the whole surface; and probably from thence 
to Labrador. In the northern part of New York, a range diver- 
ges from that just described, and extends in a westerly and north- 
weaporly direction, till it approaches the Rocky Mountains, which 
are also primary. Thus the vast basin of the Mississippi; is 
bounded for the most part, on three sides by primary rocks, while 
the secondary and tertiary strata are found chiefly in that valley, 
and on the-Atlantic slope, as far north as New York. 
Only a small portion’of these vast primary deposits has yet 
been carefully examined ;—nor have many features been discov- 
red in them that are vit ecema Saami Labra- 
dor feldspar and of New York, 
ei 
