28 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 



The Orthoceras, now in the Redpath Museum, Montreal, was 

 obtained from the under surface of a thick layer in a quarry near 

 the city, and the Stromatopora, from the upper of a singular block, 

 in a pocket or hollow. Both quarries have since been abandoned 

 (worked out). 



We next come to the overlying Clinton beds, known in the Old 

 Country as the " May Hill Sandstones." You are all aware how the 

 action of the Grand Trunk Railway authorities closed up and ren- 

 dered inaccessible to us the chief and most interesting portion of 

 this series, below the brow of the Niagara Escarpment. It appears 

 difficult to understand how such a clause was ever inserted in a 

 Dominion Railway Act, without the approval of the company and 

 its legal advisers. How it was smuggled in without opposition from 

 the representatives of Nova Scotia, a province possessing such a man 

 as the Hon. J. Howe and others, seems incomprehensible. New 

 Brunswick, too, the home of Harte, Bailey and Mathews — why were 

 its representatives silent when a clause was inserted in this Railway 

 Act, which unfortunately admits of no explanation, save this : It was 

 passed through ignorance and carelessness, by such men as we Cana- 

 dians generally select (especially in Ontario), as representatives (?) 

 It seems unfortunately true, as was remarked recently, the better 

 class of men in Canada feel little disposed to take an active part in 

 politics. This circumstance may explain^ the reason for the purchase 

 at Ottawa, a short time ago, of an old ramshackle building for the 

 Dominion Geological Survey Office and Museum, altogether unfitted 

 for the purpose, where the priceless treasures therein contained are 

 in danger of being destroyed by fire, etc., at any moment. Are they 

 not insured? Perhaps, gentlemen of the Dominion Parliament, 

 there are organic remains contained in that totally unsuitable build- 

 ing that never could be replaced and that money could not purchase. 

 Do not, through ignorance or indifference, ignore the representations 

 frequently brought to your notice. Do not afford our cousins south 

 of us further grounds for tauntingly upbraiding Canada with the 

 slow progress we are making in Geological Science. When our 

 neighbors point out the extent of yet unexplored territory, I presume 

 they allude to what all scientific men know, viz. : That the Geologi- 

 cal Survey Staff is insufficient in number for the work it has to 

 perform. How it has accomplished so much, with such inadequate 



