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number of persons availing themselves of information, which we 

 are always ready to give, on matters connected with the geological 

 mode of occurrence and the probable value of deposits of all kinds 

 of metal and mineral ; and I know that, in some cases, our advice has 

 been followed with manifest advantage, and that, as time goes on 

 and demonstrates the reliability of our work, and the substantiality 

 of the basis on which our opinions are founded, the survey will be 

 more and more efficient as a break on the. wheel of reckless mining 

 expenditures. If this survey could have been begun at an early pe 

 riod in the development of the State, and have firmly established 

 itself in the confidence of the people at the time of the last great 

 mining excitement on this coast, of what incalculable value might it 

 not have been ! I am aware that there are persons so little acquainted 

 with the principles of political economy and the laws which govern 

 the progress of nations, as to think that money expended in the 

 State is a benefit to it, whether any results of permanent value be 

 attained or not by such expenditure. Benjamin Franklin had a clearer 

 idea of the truth when he put into the mouth of Poor Richard his 

 famous saying : " A penny saved is a penny earned." It is only in 

 communities where the pence are saved that the great results of a 

 permanent and high civilization are obtained. To insure permanent 

 working and economical development of what is discovered, by giv 

 ing every one the means of knowing beforehand how his discoveries 

 may be turned to the best account, how he can best open his mine, 

 how treat his ores, what form to give his products and where and 

 in what quantity they can be disposed of these are some of the 

 more important points to be gained by the development of that de 

 partment of our work which is included under the designation of 

 Economical Geology. The services which we shall be able to render, 

 in this line, will become every day more important, as our basis of 

 experience is enlarged and as it becomes more clearly understood 

 that our opinions are disinterested, and that we have no other objects 

 in view than the welfare of the State and the development of its 

 mineral resources. In- our volumes devoted to Economical Geology 

 we shall throw all possible light on these subjects, and it will not be 

 our fault if the man about to embark in any undertaking connected 

 with ores or mineral substances shall not find in our book something 

 which shall materially aid him in his undertaking, or at least prevent 

 a foolish waste of money on the impracticable. It is, in every respect, 

 desirable also that the resources of the State should be made known 

 to the world, under official guarantee of correctness,. so that not only 



