830 THE JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY. 



$15,000 — was spent, and, in addition thereto, the Legislature 

 voted $2386* in a deficiency bill. 



The failure of the surveys for years 1868 to 1875 to yield any 

 geological results must be attributed to the general demoraliza- 

 tion of the state government during the reconstruction period. 



No further efforts were made to carry on a geological survey 

 until the year 1881, when bills for such work was defeated in 

 both branches of the General Assembly. 



In the Assembly of 1883 the only legislation passed relating 

 to geological work was a Senate concurrent resolution "authoriz- 

 ing and directing the Governor to make application to the Secre- 

 tary of the Interior of the United States for a geological survey 

 of the State of Arkansas." Nothing seems to have come of this 

 effort to obtain help from the national government. 



The Branner Survey. — The last survey of the state was 

 publicly suggested by Governor Simon P. Hughes in his message 

 to the General Assembly in January, 1887, and on January 19th 

 of that year Hon. Elias W. Rector, Representative from Garland 

 county, introduced in the Lower House an act providing for a 

 geological survey of the State of Arkansas. 2 



This bill provided for a state geologist and three assistants. 

 The geologists were to be paid from the appropriation for the 

 state officers, and printing, stationary, postage, fuel, and lights 

 were to be paid for out of funds to furnish supplies and to do 

 printing for state officers, while $10,000 was appropriated in the 

 survey bill proper to pay contingent expenses. The bill required 

 that the survey should be completed in two years. Under this 

 act J. C. Branner, at the time professor of geology in the Uni- 

 versity of Indiana, was appointed state geologist ; he entered 

 upon the duties of his office June 24, 1887. 



At the next meeting of the General Assembly, in 1889, there 

 was much and violent opposition to the continuance of the 



1 The biennial report of the State Treasurer for 1874 shows that he paid $19,628 

 to the state geologist. 



2 It was referred to the Committee on Judiciary, reported back favorably, fully dis- 

 cussed and passed February 24, 1887, by a vote of S3 to 19 ; the same bill passed the 

 Senate by a vote of 28 to I, and was approved by Governor Hughes, March 5, 1887. 



