INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 



-o- 



To His Excellency, E. N. Conway, 



Governor of Arkansas: 

 Sir— In conformity to an act approved 15th January, 1857, entitled "an 

 act to provide for a geological survey of the State of Arkansas," I had 

 the honor of being appointed by you State Geologist of the State of 

 Arkansas, which office I accepted with the proviso that I was to commence 

 the geological survey of the state as early as my engagements in Ken- 

 tucky permitted, say about the 1st of October, or as soon thereafter as 

 possible, it being, however, expressly understood that my salary as Geolo- 

 gist of the State of Arkansas, was not to commence until I entered upon 

 the duties of that office, as will appear from the following letter of your 

 Excellency, addressed to me on the 20th April, 1857: 



Executive Ofeice, 



Little Rock. Arks., 



Dr. D. D. Owen — 



Sir: I have- appointed you State Geologist of the State of Arkansas, 

 under the act of the 15th January, 1857, as shown by the enclosed com- 

 mission, which will take effect from and after the 1st day of October, 1857; 

 and your salary is to commence upon your qualification, on or before the' 

 15th October, 1857, that is, as soon as you shall enter upon your duties as 

 State Geologist of Arkansas, under said law, and not before then. I hope 

 by the first day of October, you will have completed your present engage- 

 ments in the State of Kentucky, and that you will accept the commission 

 which I send you upon the terms stated in it. 



As a measure of economy, as far as this state is concerned, I was pleased 



