12 INTRODUCTION. 



found, and how profitably the capitalist may invest his means for their 

 development, can only be determined and made known in a manner to 

 command the confidence of the public at home and abroad, by a careful 

 survey under the direction of the state. 



The importance of these surveys is more highly appreciated on this con- 

 tinent than with us. Here the necessity of developing all the resources of 

 the country is felt, and attention is given to the subject. It is this develop- 

 ment and the wealth which necessarily comes from it, which enables many 

 of these countries to maintain their position and influence in the world. 

 Money judiciously expended in these investigations yields a sure return. 



In Bavaria, with less territory than the state of Indiana, millions have 

 been expended in complete geological and topographical surveys of that 

 country, and for a few pennies every farmer or land-owner can obtain a 

 copy of the survey of his land, a chemical analysis of its soil, and a knowl- 

 edge of the minerals which enrich it. 



In Belgium, they are excavating coal at a depth of 1,500 to 1,800 feet 

 below the surface, working veins only 18 inchs thick at an angle of 45 deg., 

 and this coal, too, of an inferior quality, such as we would not use, and in 

 that country, notwithstanding the amount already expended, preparations 

 are being made for a still more thorough survey. Might not much capital 

 thus laboriously expended be attracted towards our rich coal fields, were 

 their existence and extent known and believed? 



But it is not only in the discovery and location of the mineral resources 

 of the state, that such a survey would be advantageous. It would call 

 attention to the fact that all these minerals can be worked and made into 

 manufactured articles at home, instead of being sent abroad and returned 

 to us at an advanced price, as we know is now done, not only with our 

 pig iron, zinc and other metals, but even with our walnut and cherry. 

 Copper is shipped from Tennessee to England, and returned to us in the 

 manufactured state at an advance of more than 200 per cent. I believe 

 that zinc is not manufactured in any considerable quantities in the Mis- 

 sissippi valley, and yet it is well known among us, that it is found in great 

 abundance in the north-west, equal to any in the world. How profitably 

 to our people might the money be expended in manufacturing at home 

 the zinc used among us for painting, for roofing, telegraphing, and in the 

 daily employments of our mechanics. But this will not be until the atten- 

 tion of capital is drawn to our resources. 



It may be mentioned as a striking fact, showing the extent to which we 

 look across the water for supplies, that in South Wales and Staffordshire, 

 England, alone, tin plates are manufactured to the amount of 900,000 



