EDWARD ORTON 211 
but the outcome was that masterly presentation of the whole 
Carboniferous series of Ohio, in which. the relations and varia- 
tions of every prominent bed as it occurs within the state and in 
adjacent portions of other states are presented in such fashion 
as to make the discussion distinctively one of the best yet con- 
tributed to Appalachian geology. In this the awkward task of 
correcting the errors of those who had made the original obser- 
vations is performed with a delicacy rarely equaled. Good work 
is noted, but errors are referred to in such a way that to discover 
whose they are would require more labor than anyone would 
choose to expend. Indeed, the reader is inclined to believe that 
every error in observation was due to too earnest desire to do 
faithful work—which is more than half true. 
During Professor Orton’s term, the petroleum interests 
attained great importance; the origin of the oil, the mode of 
occurrence and the laws regulating the flow were studied with 
great care. At the same time and with equal care problems 
relating to natural gas were investigated. Professor Orton was 
recognized quickly as an authority upon all matters respecting 
petroleum and natural gas, whether scientific or technical, and 
he was called upon by the Kentucky, New York, and United States 
surveys to prepare elaborate reports; so that his writings will be 
the standard reference for years to come. His studies led him 
to issue appeals to the people of Ohio urging care in husbanding 
their resources; but these were not received in the spirit in 
which they were offered. He had the melancholy satisfaction of 
seeing his forebodings justified by the event. The distribution 
of fire and pottery clays, studied in reconnaissance by some aids 
on the Newberry survey, was taken up systematically and a com- 
plete investigation made under his direction by his son, who has 
succeeded him as director of the survey. Building stone, iron ore, 
glass sands, and other materials of economic interest, all received 
careful study. Professor Orton’s reports prove the intimate 
relation between pure science and industrial growth. 
Throughout his career, while ever anxious to improve the 
condition of the community by inducing men to utilize the dis- 
coveries of geology, he was ever on the alert to advance the 
