23 



nothing more humiliating than backing down, without reason, when 

 the work is already more than half completed, and the most practi 

 cally valuable portion of the results is just beginning to see the light. 



I am aware that there are some who would pull the survey up 

 by the roots in order that the University may be planted in the 

 same hole, with the idea that there would be economy in that oper 

 ation, or else with some hidden notion that does not appear on the 

 surface. There might have been some reason in this plan of making 

 the Survey by the University, or a University out of the Survey, for 

 the two things amount to about the same, had it been put in oper 

 ation at the commencement of our work. Indeed, something like 

 this was suggested by the State Geologist, three years ago, in an 

 official report. It is now too late : as organized, the Survey requires 

 the entire thoughts and time of every man connected with it, and 

 there has never been a new College or University established in the 

 country where the Professors had not their hands full in attending to 

 their legitimate official duties, and few is the number of them who 

 are fitted by education or practice to engage in a work such as we 

 are carrying on, without special preliminary training. To stop the 

 Survey in order to encourage the University would be like pulling 

 the foundation of a building to pieces in order to get material for 

 the walls and roof. 



By what I have said here to-night, I am aware that I have laid my 

 self open to the charge of blowing my own trumpet ; but in what I 

 have said I am very sure that I have not exceeded the truth, and 

 that I have not given an opinion not backed by many years of ex 

 perience. I cannot refrain from adding, however,- that I have carried 

 on this Survey in spite of many obstacles and great temptations to 

 engage in other less laborious and responsible, but more lucrative, 

 work. Enough has been accomplished to show to the world what it 

 would be were my plans to be carried out, and thus to take from my 

 shoulders the responsibility of the failure if the Legislature chooses 

 to bring the work to an end. If the Survey can be continued on the 

 same basis on which it has thus far been prosecuted, free from all politi 

 cal contaminations, and with the same ideal of thoroughness, and with 

 a sufficient liberal appropriation to insure a rapid carrying on of the 

 work, I shall rejoice to go on with it and complete it, as I fully be 

 lieve that it will reflect the highest credit on the State, and all offi 

 cially connected with it, as well as the Legislatures by which it has 

 been upheld. Let the work stop, without any fault or laches of mine, 

 and I shall feel that it is not of me that it can be said that, " having 

 put his hand to the plow, he looked back." 



