March 2, 1900.] 



SCIENCE. 



343 



ginning of what it should and could do, if 

 properly supported. The aim of those who 

 are interested in its welfare is to create a 

 permanent station with adequate endow- 

 ment and equipment which shall be in the 

 future yet more than in the past ' a na- 

 tional center of research in every depart- 

 ment of Biology. ' 



For this end its friends labor and wait, 

 hoping that the time is not far distant when 

 generous friends of science and education 

 will see its needs and its opportunities and 

 will not be slow in their response. 



e. g. conklijs^. 



University of Pennsylvania. 



MEPORT ON THE INITIAL WORK OF THE 



STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF 



NEBRASKA* 



In a State such as Nebraska where there 

 is no ' mineral ' — a term which in the west 

 has come to mean gold and silver-bearing — 

 it is dififtcult to convince the masses that 

 there is the least possible economic impor- 

 tance in a State geological survej'. 



If ' mineral ' did occur, apathy could 

 much more easily be overcome, and the ap- 

 peals for a survey would find more willing 

 and receptive ears. But something stronger 

 than apathy is encountered in the prejudice 

 which has been engendered against a State 

 survey by men who have sought heretofore 

 to establish such for the evident purpose of 

 holding office, that is make a political job 

 of it. This prejudice seems justifiable, 

 nevertheless it is none too easy to live down. 

 A good many years have passed since our 

 admission to Statehood, yet Nebraska, a 

 commonwealth greater than all New Eng- 

 land, has never made an allowance of any 

 kind for a State survey, not even for the 

 postage and stationery used in correspond- 

 ence. Literally then not so much as one 

 cent has ever been voted for such work to 



* Paper read before the Nebraska Academy of Sci- 

 ences, December 1, 1899. 



date. Even moral support has been with- 

 held, save that the titles Acting Botanist, 

 Acting Chemist and Acting Geologist have 

 been conferred. The title being the sole 

 emolument of office. However, the pre- 

 liminary work of a survey, which has en- 

 gaged the writer's attention for successive 

 summer vacations since 1891, has just re- 

 ceived from the University of Nebraska en- 

 couraging recognition, and an allowance, 

 which, though small, is substantial. For 

 the biennium of 1899 and 1900, $1000 was 

 allowed by the Board of Eegents for the 

 initial work of a State geological survej'. 

 The same sum was likewise allowed for a 

 botanical survey. The sum of $500 a year 

 may seem ridiculously small, yet it made it 

 possible to undertake several lines of work, 

 and fair progress may be reported. Camp 

 outfits were obtained for several field parties. 

 Team and camp accoutrements were pro- 

 cured for Mr. Cassius A. Fisher, a Fellow 

 in the department of geology, who, together 

 with Mr. W. H. H. Moore (U. of N., 1900), 

 constituted a party whose summer was to 

 be spent in examining gravel pits, clay pits, 

 quarries, the water supply, and geology of 

 the southeastern or Carboniferous counties 

 of Nebraska. At each quarry, pit and ex- 

 posure photographs were taken, measure- 

 ments and sections made, notes recorded, 

 and liberal samples taken from the soil and 

 sub-soil down through every layer. 



One hundred and fifty localities were thus 

 examined. The specimens from each quarry 

 are being mounted in order upon large 

 wooden tablets properlj^ made and finished, 

 each some 7 feet high by one foot wide ; 

 these as done are placed permanently on 

 exhibition to illustrate the rock and clay 

 resources of the State. A second party in 

 charge of Mr. C. N. Gould (a Fellow in the 

 department of geology), with Mr. Eoy 

 Hadsel (S. W. Kan. College, 1899), as as- 

 sistant, was provided with team and camp 

 outfit, and di'ove from Oklohoma through 



