564 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



hands of private persons who have in their devotion to science made many 

 explorations, but this knowledge is available by the public generally to a very 

 limited extent. Within the last two years, geologists have found minerals in our 

 western counties which further examination will doubtless show to be of con- 

 siderable value, and which are even now being utilized. 



Nearly all civilized countries have caused surveys to be made which, 

 conducted simply as for the definite advancement of science, have yet revealed 

 material resources which have largely added to the outlets for the useful employ- 

 ment of capital and labor. 



Many of our sister States have caused geological surveys to be made, 

 extending over a long series of years, which have made known mineral resources 

 the use of which has greatly increased the wealth of the State. 



In Michigan, there are now millions of dollars of taxable value in salt works, 

 the existence of which is due entirely to the geological survey. 



One county in Ohio (Tuscarawas) has a large industry in mining coal, the 

 existence of which was made known by the geological survey. The State of 

 Ohio as a whole has been immensely benefited by the survey, on which it has 

 expended large sums. 



The great State of New York has employed eminent geologists for a long 

 time with experts in other departments of science, at a total cost of ovef half a 

 million dollars, and the evidence of the most direct kind shows that the expendi- 

 ture has resulted in the profitable investment of capital to a great amount ; and' 

 unprofitable investments in prospecting for minerals,- which were formerly com- 

 mon in that State, have ceased since the definite results of the survey have been 

 made known. 



In every State that has tried it, benefits have been received from this work 

 in proportion to the time and expense that have been spent on it. 



In our own State, the lack of definite knowledge as to the boundaries of our 

 coal fields has led to the expenditure of capital in many useless undertakings. 

 For example, in Morris County a shaft to the depth of three hundred feet was 

 sunk ; in Sedgwick County a depth of eleven hundred feet was reached, and in 

 Marion a boring of seven hundred feet was made — all at great cost and without 

 any returns. 



Ignorance of the principles and facts that govern the supply of water in wells 

 is in many places leading to similar wasteful experiments. A geological survey 

 would stop this waste, and point out directions where labor would meet with 

 reward and capital increase by investment, 



The cost of a survey is so small, compared with the advantages to be reaped, 

 that there should be no longer delay. A tax of one-twentieth of a mill would 

 produce about as much revenue as it would require to put the survey in good 

 working condition, though a larger sum would hasten the final accomplishment. 

 This continued for a series of years would produce results in scientific and 

 economic progress, of which all citizens would be justly proud. 



