94 J. J. STEVENSON OUR SOCIETY 



time, the early "fifties," the perplexities of American geologists had 

 reached a maximum. Most of the old state surveys had come to a close — 

 rich in economic results and still richer in problems to be solved only by 

 elaborate investigation too extended and top costly for those days. The 

 observations made by Wislezenus and army officers in New Mexico, by 

 Fremont and Stansbui'y farther north in the Rocky Mountain and Plateau 

 regions, as well as bj' Culbertson and Norwood in the Dakota country, 

 had stirred the curiosit}^ and aAvakened the interest of geologists every- 

 where. Strong pressure was brought to bear on the Secretary of War 

 for appointment of geologists to positions on the several parties. The 

 efforts were successful and the appointments were made, though in most 

 instances the geologists were physicians and appointed as acting sur- 

 geons in the army. This was an important advance in scientific work, 

 for almost without exception exploring parties under the War Depart- 

 me^it from that time were accompanied b}'' naturalists. The civil war 

 brought the western work to a close ; but when peace returned it was 

 taken up again, and geology was recognized as a necessary part of it, 

 until at last the fragmentary works were placed in one organization and 

 the survey established as it now exists. 



In all of the later geological surveys the element of economics entered 

 more largely into consideration, and was emphasized in the legislative 

 enactments. Men recognized that geological investigation had led to 

 the discover}^ of laws most important from the economic standpoint, 

 and the}' were anxious to have the knowledge utilized in a broad wa3^ 



Looking over the history of the old surveys, one sees clearly that their 

 origin was due solely to a desire for solution of problems in pure science. 

 The credit for the economic outcome of the scientific work is due to the 

 geologist alone, to whom the ajDpropriations were given, ijracticall}' as a 

 gift. The legislators soothed their consciences by lofty speeches respect- 

 ing the duty of the commonwealth to foster the study of nature, but 

 they generally had an aside to be utilized as a justification before their 

 constituents, " especially when there is a very reasonable chance that 

 something of value will be discovered to the advantage of our common- 

 wealth." 



Economic Results of official Surveys 



The New York survey had for its possible outcome the determination 

 of the coal area. The work was completed with great exactness, for it 

 proved that the state contains no coal area whatever. Though only 

 negative in results for the state, this survey has proved of incalculalile 

 service to the country at large, for it first elaborated the lower and mid- 

 dle Paleozoic section. The scientific work continued along the'biolog- 



