31 



ness for which it is so well adapted, and which, in 

 this country, is so much needed. Within the terri- 

 tory of the United States, almost every variety of 

 mineral, useful or necessary to the wants of man, is 

 found in greater or less abundance. In our southern 

 States, gold; in our western, copper, lead, and zinc; 

 and almost in all, iron and coal, in inexhaustible 

 quantities. Chrome, bismuth, antimony, manganese, 

 cobalt, and many others, are known to exist, and 

 perhaps further investigation will add platina, tin, 

 and silver. But little has yet been done to avail our- 

 selves of these productions. Mining, as a profession, 

 is unknown to us. Educated as agriculturists, mer- 

 chants, mechanics, or professional men, we pass al- 

 most unnoticed these sources of individual and na- 

 tional wealth. The time has surely arrived for turn- 

 ing our attention to them. If we are not to await their 

 slow development under the pressing necessity of 

 our wants, we must begin at once to induce persons 

 to enter on this new pursuit, by educating them for it. 

 Geology and mineralogy, thoroughly taught, will en- 

 able them to undertake the search after these hidden 

 resources with every prospect of success. Geology 

 will point out the places in w r hich they are to be 

 found ; mineralogy w r ill detect them amidst the use- 

 less materials by which they may be surrounded. 



It is not to the practical miners of Europe, or of 

 other countries, that we ought to look for improve- 

 ment in the profession of mining. In so important a 

 matter we must depend upon ourselves. We are 

 capable of accomplishing it, and should not hesitate 

 to set about it. Our people have no superstitious in- 



