GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS IN ALABAMA. 



First Survey. 



Upon the appointment of Professor Michael Tuomey, in 1847, 

 to the professorship of Geology in the University of Alabama, 

 it was made a part of his duty to spend such portions of his 

 time, not exceeding four months in each year, in exploring the 

 state in connection with his proper department, as the Trustees 

 might consider for the advantage of the state. Professor 

 Tuomey, in accordance with these instructions, began imme- 

 diately his explorations, and thus the first systematic examina- 

 tion of the geology of Alabama was instituted. Such extracts 

 from his reports to the Trustees upon this work as were con- 

 sidered of general interest, were published from time to time in 

 the newspapers of the city of Tuscaloosa, and in January, 1848, 

 the state legislature made recognition of this effort by appoint- 

 ing Professor Tuomey State Geologist, and requesting him to 

 lay before them the results of his explorations, to be published 

 by the state. Thus was begun the first geological survey of 

 Alabama. From 1848 to 1853 Professor Tuomey continued 

 these explorations at the expense of the University of Alabama, 

 the state having made no appropriation for the purpose, and in 

 1849 he presented to the legislature his first biennial report, 

 which was published in 1850 by the state. The geological map 

 was not ready, however, for distribution with the report, and 

 appeared separately. When we consider the gr^at number of 

 observations recorded in this volume, and the accuracy with 

 which the limits of the various geological formations were laid 

 down upon the map, after only two years' exploration, in a state 

 about whose geology almost nothing was previously known, we 

 cannot fail to recognize the genius of the man. 



In 1854 the legislature passed a law appropriating $10,000 

 for the support of the Geological Survey, and an additional sum 



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