12 PRELIMINARY REPORT. 



this time, since I have had charge of the survey, -whatever analyses have been made, or 

 in any way obtained by the Chemist, have been entirely gratuitous. But his time has 

 been fully occupied in the geological part of the survey. Such has been the situation 

 of my other son, EDWARD HITCHCOCK, Jr., that he has been unable to spend much 

 time in the field, without making such sacrifices as could not be expected. He has done 

 something, however, as will appear by our Report. We were so fortunate as to secure the 

 services of Rev. S. R. HALL of Brownington, a well known assistant of Professor ADAMS, 

 in connection with Professor THOMPSON, in the examination of the three most northern 

 sections, and the collection of specimens. The results of his valuable labors will appear 

 in our Report. I ought not to forget, also, the kind assistance rendered by Rev. C. A. 

 WILLIAMS, who, not professing an acquaintance with Geology, joined us as an amateur, 

 but ultimately rendered us important aid. Valuable facts and suggestions were also made 

 to us by Rev. AUGUSTUS WING, of Stockbridge, a gentleman who has studied the Geology 

 of the State with great perseverance and success. Nor can I omit acknowledging the 

 many acts of kindness and generosity of JASPER CURTIS, Esq., of St. Albans. 



I would not omit to express our great indebtedness to Prof. JAMES HALL, of Albany, 

 the eminent paleontologist, for gratuitously naming the fossils in the collection, and 

 describing the few new ones which have been discovered. We acknowledge our obliga- 

 tions also, for a like gratuitous favor, from Mr. G. F. BARKER, of Boston, in the careful 

 and accurate analyses of numerous specimens, as the chemist's Report will show. 



The first act, pointing out the duties of the Geological Surveyor, included Agricultural 

 Chemistry and Geology, and the second act Natural History also. These subjects were 

 omitted in the act under which I was appointed, and wisely in my opinion, for each of 

 them deserves to be made the object of a separate survey ; and then they will receive the 

 attention which their importance demands. I trust that Vermont will not rest satisfied 

 till both of them have been accomplished. 



Physical Geography is named among the objects on which we were to report. But to 

 this we have been unable to give much attention. Most of the mountains of the State 

 have indeed been climbed by us, and their heights, too, measured by the Aneroid Barom- 

 eter, as well as that of a multitude of other points on the surface. But the grand object 

 of these measurements has been to be able to show the true form of the surface on the 

 sections. To fix the latitude and longitude of particular spots, and delineate the topogra- 

 phy, would require costly astronomical and geodetical instruments, and more than the 

 whole time which we have spent in the geological survey. It would in fact be a trigono- 

 metrical survey, which we hope will be made in Vermont, but which we could not 

 undertake. 



The main objects which we have aimed to accomplish are the following : 



1. To gain such a knowledge of the solid rocks of the State as to be able to delineate 

 them upon maps and sections, according to the established system of geological science. 



2. To study the lodse deposits lying upon the solid rocks, and trace out the astonishing 

 changes which the surface of the State has undergone ; the whole forming what we call 

 Surface Geology. 



3. To collect, arrange and name specimens of rocks, minerals and fossils from every 

 part of the State for the State Cabinet. 



