212 THE JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY. 



a geological survey as an adjunct to a general system of internal 

 improvement. Shortly after this a Board of Internal Improve- 

 ments was formed, and, among other works, surveys of the 

 Meramec, of the Salt, of the North Grande and of the Osage 

 rivers were started. In connection with this, a geological exam- 

 ination by Dr. Henry King was made along the Osage river, and 

 a report of twenty pages was published in 1840.^ 



Much of this report is devoted to the topography and soils, 

 and to a description of occurrences of ore. Dr. King assigns all 

 of the rocks of the region to the Carboniferous formation and 

 separates them into two series: (i) A lower Galeniferous or 

 Lead series; (2) an upper Coal series. By the former he 

 plainly means the magnesian limestones and associated sand- 

 stones, though the section given is very imperfect ; in the latter 

 he includes the Encrinital or Lower Carboniferous limestones as 

 well as the overlying coal beds, sandstones, and shales. The 

 change between the two series is so marked, however, that he 

 expresses the feeling that an entire separation of the two is 

 almost justifiable. The lead ores of the region he assigns to the 

 uppermost member of the lower series ; the surface float ore, or 

 " patch mineral," as he calls it, he determines correctly to be 

 residuary from the decay of the limestone. 



After this, further investigations by the state seem to have 

 fallen into neglect for several years ; but, by 1846, the subject 

 again excited public attention and the question of a geological 

 survey called forth a number of memorials from c«nventions, and 

 of papers prepared by scientific associations, and was further 

 recommended in the messages of several governors. Finally, 

 by an act approved February 24, 1853, the First geological sur- 

 vey of Missouri was authorized.^ The act controlling the First 

 geological survey provided for the appointing by the governor 



' Senate Journal, Appendix, ist Session, nth Gen. Assembly, 1840, pp. 506-525. 



^ Additional information beyond what is given in the following pages, relating 

 especially to the laws governing the various state surveys, their organization, and 

 plans of work, will be found in an historical sketch of Missouri Geological Surveys, 

 forming part of the writer's Biennial Report to the 36th General Assembly, House 

 Journal, 189 1. 



