te DI TORIAL 
Ir is gratifying to know that the excellent work of the 
Missouri Geological Survey is to be continued and that it is 
even proposed “to eliminate all ornamental or irrelevant fancies 
and go directly after the fundamental facts which make the only 
logical foundation for a geological survey.’ It is true that 
among the ‘“‘ornamental”’ facts to be eliminated are such things 
as ‘Engineering Instruments, Photographic Apparatus, Labora- 
tory Equipments” and a few others which ordinary geologists 
have come to consider indispensable. However, it is no ordi- 
nary man or ordinary plan of work that Missouri now has on its 
hands. In a recent St. Louis interview the state geologist 
announces that ‘‘The rocks have never been differentiated in 
Missouri and Arkansas ’’—thus setting aside at one stroke of the 
pen all the results of former work in the region. Fortunately 
such a dire condition is not to be allowed to continue, and the 
new state geologist proposes to issue at once a preliminary report 
in which ‘1. will differentiate the rocks: to a finish.* He also 
proposes to give ‘photographic views of two or three of the 
best exposures of each rock in the state,” from which we may 
infer that since his Azennzal Report was issued he has fallen into 
evil ways and has begun to lean a little on the ‘‘ ornamental” 
and ‘‘irrelevant’”’ aids of other members of his profession. This 
new work is to be very thorough and the sedimentary rocks are 
to be taken, “one at a time, irom Z to A.” 
Incidentally he will courteously give in the report a synopsis 
of a new ‘‘cosmic philosophy” which he has worked out ‘ with 
only physics, logic and consciousness as guides.” With such 
noble companionship it is no wonder that ordinary grammar is 
considered out of place. At least we may judge this to be true 
from such statements as, ‘‘ Several dykes of diabase were crossed 
619 
