17 



fell qualifications of the learned gentlemen now in charge 

 of that survey, I must observe, that *the natural conditions 

 existing in Tennessee arc as decidedly favorable to the ap- 

 preciation of the geological survey by the public generally, 

 as in Mississippi they are unfavorable, for reasons before stat- 

 ed. Had we been able to proclaim the discovery in a Duck- 

 town mine, of quarries of exquisite marble, or inexhaustible 

 beds of stone coal, our short-comings might have been cov- 

 ered with the broad mantle of charity. But the dingy ex- 

 terior of our marls, lignites and limestones, is little calculat- 

 ed to dazzle the public eye. 



Our neighbor State of Arkansas, has done somewhat bet- 

 ter, by entering the field with an annual appropriation of 

 $4,000. This sum, having been appro priated/ram the outset, 

 and under circumstances peculiarly favorable, appears to be 

 adequate to insure to that survey a fair rate of progress, in 

 the hands of its distinguished Principal, aided by one As- 

 sistant. 



It may be observed that with the single exception of Ten- 

 nessee, no other State has made as small a provision for its 

 geological survey as Mississippi ; notwithstanding that, as 

 before set forth, her survey requires more especially, great 

 and time-costing accuracy throughout, and will not be satis- 

 factory to any one unless speedily completed. 



It would perhaps be desirable, and a saving both of time 

 and money, were Mississippi to adopt provisions similar to 

 those made by Missouri and other States. Had the sum 

 heretofore expended on the geological survey of this State, 

 been placed at once in the hands of a competent man, with 

 powers (under strict accountability,) to make such disposi- 

 tion of the funds as, in the Governor's and his discretion, 

 should seem best adapted to further the survey, the latter 

 might, without further appropriation, have been more than 

 half completed long ago. 



But I do not mean to propose, at the present time, inno- 

 vations which might prove distasteful to a good many, es- 

 pecially those who prefer spending in small sums twice the 

 R-2 



