GEOL OGICAL SUR VE Y OF MISSO VRL 621 



In closing, let us consider to what the name Mississippi should be given. 

 In point of antiquity, the Ohio and Upper Mississippi are of about the same age, 

 but since the time when in growing southward they united, the latter river has 

 been the larger. The Missouri River, though longer than the Mississippi is both 

 smaller and geographically newer, — the upper portion much newer. 



Above Ft. Snelling, the modern Mississippi, though the larger body of 

 water, should be considered as a tributary to that now called Minnesota, whilst 

 the Minnesota Valley is really a portion of the older Mississippi Valley — both to- 

 gether forming the parent river, which when swollen to the greatest volume, had 

 the Saskatchewan River for a tributary, and formed the grandest and mightiest 

 river of which we have any record. 



GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF MISSOURI. 



PROF. S. H. TROWBRIDGE. 



A bill has been introduced by Senator Britts, in the Upper House of the 

 State Legislature now in session, to provide for the resurrection of the geological 

 survey of our State. It is a measure that merits the approval and best efforts in 

 its behalf of every citizen interested in the prosperity of one of the richest States 

 in natural resources in the Union. On this account, there is perhaps no other 

 State that would receive equal benefit from a complete and thorough survey of the 

 natural wealth within her borders. 



The first State Geologist was Prof. G. C. Swallow, who held the office from 

 1853 to 1861. Of the work done during this time, only that embodied in two 

 bound volumes has been published by the State, though some still remains in 

 manuscript form. The first volume contains the "First and Second Annual Re- 

 ports" and was pubHshed in 1855. These reports were based upon information 

 gained during a hasty reconnoissance lasting about eighteen months. The 

 first was simply a report of progress four pages long. The second was in two 

 parts, of 207 and 239 pages, and gave a brief discussion of the general geology 

 of the State, reports of five counties, and a report on the then most important 

 mineral resources. From the time of publication of this first volume to the dis- 

 continuance of the survey in 1861, twenty-one additional counties were surveyed 

 by G. C. Broadhead, B. F. Shumard, and F. B. Meek. These counties are 

 scattered somewhat promiscuously through the State, fifteen south of the Missouri 

 River and six north, and none very near the western border. The second 

 bound volume containing reports of these counties was printed in 1873. It con- 

 tains 323 pages. 



From 1861 to 1870 the survey was entirely inactive. At the latter date the 

 Legislature organized a " Bureau of Geology and Mines," which had power to 

 appoint a State Geologist. This Board appointed Prof. Albert D. Hager, from 

 Vermont, who served one year, and published a report of progress of no special 



