AMERICAN GEOLOGY DECADE OF 1830-1839. 321 



volume, in two parts, of "Transactions," numbering upward of 400 

 pages, tells the story of its brief existence. This contains papers by 

 authors now for the most part little known. R. C. Taylor wrote on 

 fucoids and the coal fields of Pennsylvania ^md Virginia, his papers 

 being accompanied by numerous sections; James Dickson had an 

 Essay on the Gold Region of the United States, all comprised within 

 the limits of 16 pages; Jacob Green had a paper on a Sulphated 

 Ferruginous Earth, and a Description of a New Trilobite from Nova 

 Scotia. Others were by Richard Harlan, Gerard Troost, Thomas 

 Clemsen, and H. Koehler. Few of the writers or active members 

 achieved other reputation than that given by the single publication, 

 though Taylor became an authority on coal, while Harlan and Troost 

 became later widely known, the one as a vertebrate paleontologist and 

 the other as a geologist. This society, it is well to note, was the 

 second .geological societ} 7 to be organized in America, the first being 

 that at New Haven in 1819. 



A brief paper by William Aiken, professor of natural philosophy 

 and chemistry in Mount St. Mary's College, Maryland, published in 

 the American Journal of Science at this time, is worthy of some con- 

 sideration as bearing upon the prevailing theories 



William Aiken's ...... . , f 



ideas on Mountain regarding mountain uplift and incidental phenomena. 



Uplift, 1834. Ti • » -i i ■ i 



Professor Aiken wrote on the geology of the country 

 between Baltimore and the Ohio River, and gave a section showing 

 the inclination and kinds of rocks. 



The classification conformed with that prevailing at the time, the 

 rocks being divided into (1) a primitive series in the immediate vicinity 

 of Baltimore, (2) the transition slates, sandstones, and conglomerates 

 of the adjacent county, and (3) the lower secondary rocks of the West. 



Noting the reversal of the dip existing between Hancock and Cum- 

 berland, he wrote: " Beneath this space, then, we are authorized, in 

 concluding, the eruptive power that was instrumental in upheaving the 

 Appalachian chain was most energetically exerted. This may lie con- 

 sidered the true anticlinal region. 1 '' He regarded the agent so efficient 

 in throwing up mountain chains as igneous, ''an opinion that gains 

 confirmation, if any is needed, from the occurrence of thermal waters 

 along the center line of the Allegheny region." It is apparent from 

 this that he agreed with Daubeny and other European geologists as to 

 the volcanic origin of these springs. Roger's paper, ascribing them to 

 the other causes, did not appear until eight years later (see page 87:2.) 



In accordance with a resolution passed by the general assembly of 

 Maryland, February 25, 1834, J. T. Ducatel, geologist, 



Ducateland ' ,..,'. . 



Alexander's survey and J. H. Alexander, a civil engineer, were appointed 



of Maryland, 1834. . f c .i cm. 



to make a geological survey and new map of the .State. 

 This survey continued in existence until L840', during which time 

 three annual reports, one on the outlines and physical geography of 



nat mcs 1904 21 



