James M. Safford 51 



Dr. Safford shrank from public speaking, debates, and contro- 

 versy. He preferred to write what he had to say on public occa- 

 sions, but if there was no opportunity for this he presented his views 

 in a plain, matter of fact way, and left them without further com- 

 ment to the judgment of those to whom they were addressed. Sev- 

 eral short addresses on public occasions were published in pamph- 

 lets, mention of which is made in the appended bibliography. His 

 last published papers are reminiscent in character. One of these is 

 "The Housing of the Hay; An Escapade of College Life", read at 

 the Centennial Anniversary of the Ohio University, June 1904, and 

 another was read at the meeting of the Texas Alumni Association 

 of Vanderbilt University in 1906. 



Troost preceded Safford in the study of geology of Tennessee. 

 How much of it he had brought to light when the latter came to 

 Tennessee the writer does not know, but doubtless what is known 

 of it today is due chiefly to the investigations of Safford. He is an 

 authority on this subject, and his name as a scientist will be per- 

 petuated through his work in the development of the geology of 

 Tennessee. 



The services of Dr. Safford to Tennessee as State Geologist were 

 of great material value. Largely through his investigations the 

 great mineral wealth of the State became known at home and 

 abroad. It was through his advice that the State, in 1899 ( ? ) , pur- 

 chased the Brushy Mountain Coal Mines, which for a number of 

 years gave employment to its convicts and were a regular and profit- 

 able source of revenue. His salary as State Geologist was far from 

 commensurate with the value of his services. He was devoted to the 

 work, and the salary was no consideration with him. Whether the 

 legislature appropriated little or nothing, he made no demand or 

 complaint. And it is specially worthy of mention that notwith- 

 standing the meager compensation he received and the opportunity 

 his knowledge of the value of undeveloped mineral properties gave 

 him for acquiring wealth, he never used the information for his own 

 financial benefit. As far as I know, he never owned an acre of coal 

 land or of iron ore property. The State of Tennessee ought to erect 

 a monument and statue to the memory of this man. 



Dr. Safford was intimately associated with Silliman and was held 

 in high esteem by LeConte and other distinguished American geol- 

 ogists. He was a member of the Geological Society of America 

 from its organization and was one of the oldest members of the 



