Notice of a Geological Model. 83 



jects, and for scientific institutions, the more permanent and pon- 

 derous form of representation, such as that we have now under 

 consideration, does appear to possess stronger recommendations. 

 We would desire to extend the principle so far as to introduce it 

 in the final elucidation of state geological surveys ; convinced 

 that the greatest advantage would result from it. There exists 

 no remarkable or insurmountable difficulty in thus exhibiting, in 

 the distinctest form, the most prominent geological features of the 

 states around us. There appears to be no practical or scientific 

 reason, (pecuniary considerations aside,) why the results of those 

 labors which have proceeded so successfully, and are still prose- 

 cuted so satisfactorily, in most of the States in the Union, by 

 gentlemen of high professional eminence, a large proportion of 

 whom are now assembled here, — there appears no reason, I re- 

 mark, why the vast mass of facts which they have thus so in- 

 dustriously accumulated, should not finally receive this mode of 

 representation. The capitols of Harrisburg, of Richmond, or of 

 Albany, and other seats of local government, might be honorably 

 adorned with instructive geological models of their respective 

 states ; and in due time when the great work has so far proceeded 

 in advancement, the Capitol of Washington itself might be en- 

 riched by one superb model, in which shall be concentrated those 

 results which so much combined talent has brought to light and re- 

 duced to order, and the usefulness of which has been demonstrated. 

 The illustration of physical geography by means of models 

 has long been practiced in the admirable representations of moun- 

 tainous regions in Southern Europe, by skillful artists. Many of 

 the European museums contain extremely beautiful models of 

 alpine districts. Some of these even embrace a large portion of 

 Southern Europe ; constituting, in fact, maps in relievo, elabo- 

 rately execu'^ed and truly valuable as works of art. For the most 

 part they are designed as pictorial representations of highly inter- 

 esting regions ; without particular reference to their geology, or 

 to the interior structure and arrangement of their elevated masses. 

 Although these much prized models obtained a place in the Eng- 

 lish collections, as splendid specimens of a peculiar art, the appli- 

 cation of that art to economic geology, and to kindred subjects, 

 for which it is especially adapted, has been but little employed in 

 England and its introduction is of comparative recent date. The 

 geological model, for which the Society of Arts conferred their 



