AMERICAN GEOLOGY DECADE OF 1830—1839. 335 



Mather resigned his commission in 1830 and gave up his time wholly 

 to science. He was for a short time professor of chemistry and 

 mineralogy in the University of Louisiana, but in 1836 became con- 

 nected with the Ohio State surve} 7 , and afterward with those of New 

 York and Kentucky, as mentioned elsewhere. 



He is described as a large and robust man. with great capacity for 

 physical and mental labor — a man "equable in his disposition and 

 gentle in his manners, considerate of others and just in his judgment 

 of them, modest, but manly and self-reliant and thoroughly versed in 

 the branches of science to which he devoted himself." 



With a view of directing the attention of the legislature to the 



important subject of a geological and agricultural survey of the State 



of Georgia, the patriotic citizens of Burke and Kich- 



Geor^i,%836. k '" mond counties in 1836, at their own individual expense, 



directed Prof. John R. (Dotting — 



to make a geological and agricultural survey of their respective counties. To 

 examine all localities of limestone, marls, and all other minerals useful in agriculture 

 and the arts. Also rocks that may be proper for the purpose of architecture, the 

 construction of roads, railways, etc. To examine the water of springs and wells 

 with regard to the salubrity or insalubrity of the same. To analyze the soils on 

 different plantations in the two counties, with a view to their improvement. To 

 illustrate the whole by drawings, diagrams, and a chart of the two counties, and 

 to present a report of the same to his excellency the governor, in order that it may 

 come properly before the two branches of the legislature should he deem the subject 

 of sufficient importance. 



In conformity with these instructions Cotting, in the latter part of 

 March, began his survey, which was continued for eight months, the 

 results appearing in the form of a duodecimo volume of 198 pages, 

 unaccompanied by drawings or maps of any kind, since such could not 

 be made within the State and the time assigned for publication would 

 not permit of the original drawings being sent north. 



The work was divided into three parts: (1) Topography, (2) eco- 

 nomic, and (3) scientific geology. The ideas advanced were naturally 

 largely a reflection of those held by English and European authorities. 

 The formations were divided into Tertiary, Secondary, Transition, and 

 Primitive. Granite was recognized as an igneous rock, but it does not 

 appear that the fact of its deep-seated origin and subsequent exposure 

 by erosion was taken into account. 



Many of these rocks [he wrote] occur not only together, forming a group or series, 

 but are ejected in fragments through others and over incumbent strata to the highest 

 series, assuming the appearance of having been once in a fused state. Thus frag- 

 ments bearing all the features of having been fused or, at least, acted upon by fire or 

 intense heat, occur scattered over the surface or imbedded in the strata of the Terti- 

 ary and Diluvial of this district, affording a demonstration that this region of country 

 lias been subjected to violent internal forces. The granite or syenite exhibits 

 marks of some great force acting laterally ami perpendicularly, which has rent the 

 mass, heaved it up, and projected some of the fragments to a great distance. 



