154 Report on the Geological Survey of Connecticut. 
‘As it appeared important to connect with this report whatever 
seemed likely to promote the future development of valuable mine- 
rals in the State, I have felt myself called upon to introduce occa- 
sional details respecting the uses of minerals not commonly under- 
stood, and also to give very briefly the rules for detecting and recog- 
nizing such substances. And as encouragement to research, as well 
as for the purpose of making the public generally acquainted with 
our resources, I have included frequent statistical notices relating to 
the number of hands employed in various mines and quarries, and to 
the amount of products annually afforded. , 
“‘ How far the results I am herewith able to submit concerning the 
economical mineralogy and geology of the State will be thought 
valuable, I am unable to predict. I have however, discharged this 
part of my duty to the best of my ability, though the restricted pe- 
riod allowed, has compelled me to content myself in many instances 
with hasty examinations and brief descriptions. That there was 
room for the performance of many useful services in affording infor- 
mation to individuals in different parts of the State who were occu- 
pying themselves with mineral explorations, I am abundantly satis- 
fied ; and both my colleague and myself have the satisfaction of 
knowing, that we have dissuaded from many profitless enterprises 
not a few of our fellow citizens who stood in need of such advice, 
while we hope that we have been able also to furnish suggestions to 
others, that will ultimately be promotive of their interests. Without 
wishing to speak disrespectfully of a community which has never 
been placed second to any other in the Union for its widely diffused 
intelligence and general sagacity of character, I may still be permitted 
to say, that information relating to the mineral kingdom was almost 
every where found to be singularly deficient. Other communities 
no doubt share with us in this defect. Many persons, not otherwise 
wanting in intelligence, were met with, whose. belief in the virtues of 
the divining rod was unshaken ; iron-pyrites was often explored for 
gold, taley rocks were ground for plaster, and plumbaginous mica- 
slate extensively mined for coal! Most fortunate would it have been, 
could this deficiency have been supplied at an earlier period, as 
it could not have failed to check an immense expenditure of labor 
which has been worse than thrown away ; since it has always ope- 
rated more or less to interrupt the industry of neighborhoods, and to 
bring into unmerited discredit even scientific researches connected 
with the mineral kingdom. 
