APPENDIX V. 



Mr. Eaton's Report. 



IN SENATE, OCT. 31, 1837. 



Mr. Eaton, from the Committee on Education, to whom was re- 

 ferred the communication of His Excellency, the Governor, with 

 accompanying documents, on the subject of a Geological and To- 

 pographical Survey of the State, submitted a Report, from which 

 the following is an extract : 



"In a Geological Survey the various rock formations which 

 support the soil must be ascertained, and their characters and 

 their relations must be compared with those of similar rocks in 

 other parts of the world. The peculiarities of known mineral 

 veins the regions where valuable mineral treasures, such as me- 

 tallic ores, coal beds, marl bottoms, useful substances for archi- 

 tectural and other purposes, may exist, and of course be wisely 

 sought for, must be pointed out, and also the regions where, judg- 

 ing from the experience of the world, it will be in vain to look for 

 them. The nature of the various coverings which overlie the 

 solid foundations of the State must also be investigated, and their 

 relations to the natural and artificial vegetation found on them. 

 The connection of these facts with such natural causes as are 

 known to have operated in the world, or are now in action, needs 

 also to be traced as far as practicable." 



The importance, then, of these Surveys would perhaps be suffi- 

 ciently obvious to every intelligent mind. The Legislatures of 

 some of the neighboring states have so far appreciated their 

 value and importance as to order them more especially Geologi- 

 cal Surveys made at the public expense ; and in other in- 



