OF ARKANSAS. 139 



With this amount, the geological reconnoissance of the rest of the State 

 could be completed in the next two years, and considerable progress made, 

 at the same time, towards surveying the mineral districts in detail. 



As one of the great ulterior objects of the geological survey of the State, 

 is the construction of a geological map, in which the areas of the geolo- 

 gical formations can be distinctly laid down, and their boundaries accu- 

 rately defined, it will become necessary, particularly through the country 

 bordering on the confines of two geological formations, as well as in the 

 mineral districts, to define the ridges, hills, and mountain ranges, on sec- 

 tional maps, since the limits of formations often conform to, and are inti- 

 mately connected with, the relief and topography of the country. The 

 law authorizing a geological survey of the State, in detail, should, there- 

 fore, provide that the geologist have access to all sectional, county, and 

 other maps, records and profiles of railroads and other surveys, so as to 

 afford him every facility in laying down such topographical and geo- 

 graphical details, as may be necessary for the accurate exhibition of the 

 geology of the State. It may become necessary, too, at the same time, to 

 run a judicious system of levels in connection with lines of odometer mea- 

 surements over parts of the country, in order to define with accuracy the 

 elements of dip, the thickness of the formations and their individual mem- 

 bers, and to form a basis of calculation for identifying equivalent beds, 

 estimating the depth or height at which any known bed of coal, iron ore, 

 or other valuable mineral deposit, can be found, when concealed by debris, 

 or carried by the inclination of the strata beneath the water courses. 



This can all be done if adequate means, are furnished, and it is only by 

 the adoption of such a system of operations, that a complete detailed sur- 

 vey of the State can be made. 



I may add, in this connection, that, without exceeding the appropriation 

 above named, and with very little additional expense over and above 

 what must necessarily be expended, otherwise, in the various geological 

 departments, a botanical survey of the State could be instituted, if con- 

 sidered advisable, without organizing a corps for that branch alone ; and 

 many useful items could, in the same way, be gathered in other depart- 

 ments of the natural history of the State of Arkansas. 



The chemical department is already well organized, so that, if the con- 

 tinuance of the survey be provided for, the chemical work can be carried 

 forward, with despatch, upon the same plan as heretofore provided for. 



In carrying out such an important work as this, the palseontological 

 department must, of course, not be neglected; that is, the collection of 

 the organic remains or fossils of the different rocks, and the ultimate 

 determination of their generic and specific characters; in fact, without 



