144 Reports on the Geology of the State of Maine. 



map of the United States, for which the friends of science have 

 been anxiously waiting. The reports of Dr. Jackson, four of 

 which have appeared, the first in December, 1836, and the last in 

 November, 1838, comprise a recognizance of the public lands be- 

 longing to Maine and Massachusetts, authorized by the legisla- 

 ture of the latter State, and also a survey of the entire State of 

 Maine, by its legislature. The appropriation by the two States 

 was liberal, securing the labors of two assistant geologists and a 

 draftsman, and leaving the period for the completion of the work 

 undetermined. It reflects great honor upon the chief magistrates 

 of those States,* by whom the surveys were warmly recom- 

 mended, that their influence has been thus opportunely exerted, 

 as these able reports sufliciently show, in a way calculated to ad- 

 vance the best and most immediate interests of their constituents. 

 The first report is accompanied by an atlas of picturesque views, 

 and colored representations of interesting localities and sections 

 presented along the coast, as well as of the more remarkable in- 

 land prominences. We oflTer an extract from this report, showing 

 the plan marked out by Dr. Jackson, as best calculated to give 

 him the geological limits and superposition of the different rock 

 formations of the State. In determining these, the sea coast af- 

 forded him remarkable facilities, by its bold and deep indenta- 

 tions, exposing its whole structure to view, with all its mineral 

 contents. He observes : 



" The State of Maine is one of the most interesting sections of our 

 country, and presents a great diversity of geological facts, which are im- 

 portant in the advancement of the arts and sciences. No other State in 

 the Union has such an extensive and varied rocky coast, indented by 

 thousands of arms of the sea, and estuaries of great rivers." 



" Knowing from former observations, that the general direction of 

 strata in Maine is N. E. and S. W. I found that the coast section would 

 give me the extent of most of the strata in a longitudinal direction, while 

 the indentations, bays and mouths of rivers gave those of a transverse 

 order. I was anxious to divide the State as far as practicable, into squares, 

 so as to intersect every rock on which it is based, and explore the differ- 

 ent beds and veins of metallic ores as they presented themselves to view. 

 This plan has been followed and advantage was taken of the river courses 

 to obtain the most perfect views of the strata." 



* Governors Lincoln and Everett of Massachusetts, and Kent and Fairfield of 

 Maine. Under the fornaer gentleman, a suitable appropriation had previously 

 been made for the survey of his own state ; a work which, as our readers well 

 know, has been most ably conducted by Prof. Hitchcock. 



