i6 



to have a very important bearing in an economical point of view, as 

 constituting the origin and source of the bituminous matter, asphal- 

 tum and petroleum, so widely distributed over the State. 



In the department of Economical Geology, less progress has been 

 made than would be desirable, partly on account of the necessity of 

 its being preceded by the other departments, in order that it may 

 have a safe basis on which to stand ; but more because the appropri 

 ations have been insufficient. It stands to reason that the necessary 

 assistance to thoroughly work up this department cannot be had with 

 out paying for it. Men qualified to do this work can obtain large 

 salaries as heads of mines and mills ; and, if asked to give their ser 

 vices to the State for half or quarter of what they can obtain else 

 where, are very apt to see it in another light than that of exclusive 

 devotion to science regardless of personal considerations. And if 

 I should take young men and educate them until they became com 

 petent for the work, I very much fear that the result would recall to 

 mind the modern reading of an old text : " Train up a child and 

 away he goes." 



The first volume in this department is, however, well under way 

 and can soon be put to press ; it will contain the non-metalliferous 

 minerals occurring in the State, that is to say, all materials used as 

 fuel, for illuminating, or for building purposes, including coal, asphal- 

 tum, petroleum, lime, cement, plaster, marble, granite, and the whole 

 long list of substances of mineral origin used in the arts, and not in 

 the metallic form. A most careful examination has been made of 

 all localities where bituminous materials of any kind occur in con 

 siderable quantity ; specimens have been collected and subjected to 

 chemical analysis ; new processes have been contrived for making 

 them available, and the results, when fully reported, cannot fail to 

 interest all who are turning their attention in the direction of avail 

 able fuel and illuminating materials. The coal interests of this 

 coast are also of great importance ; they require and have received a 

 large share of attention. 



We come next to the Natural History department of the survey. 

 This is divided into botany and zoology, as before stated, having for 

 its object a complete description of all the forms of animal and veg 

 etable life occurring naturally within our borders. 



The department of Botany was under the direction of Professor 

 Brewer, now of Yale College, while he was in this State, and is now, 

 so far as the working up of the flowering plants and publication of 

 the results obtained is concerned. Ever since the commencement of 



