STATE GEOLOGIC MAP OP 1901 5 



INTRODUCTION 



The geologic map of New York is a graphic expression of the 

 general results of the geologic study of the rocks of the state. 

 This study began as early as 1820 and has been carried on con- 

 tinuously, not only under state auspices, but by private and 

 federal enterprise, and many valuable contributions have been 

 made by geologists not in the state service. 



A very complete bibliography of articles on New York geology 

 will be found in bulletins of the United States Geological Survey, 

 nos. 127, 130, 135, 146, 149, 156, 162 and 172. 



HISTORY OF THE NEW YORK GEOLOGIC SURVEYS 



In 1820 and 1821 Prof. Eaton, with the assistance of Drs T. 

 Romeyn and Lewis 0. Beck, under the patronage of Hon. Stephen 

 Van Rensselaer, conducted an agricultural and geological survey 

 of Rensselaer and Albany counties. These surveys, of which 

 reports were published, were intended to serve the interests of 

 agriculture, and were spoken of in the Americcm Jon^yial of Science 

 as being the most extensive and systematic efforts of the kind 

 made up to that period. In 1822, also under the patronage of 

 Stephen Van Rensselaer, Mr Eaton undertook a geological and 

 agricultural survey of the district adjoining the Erie canal. The 

 report on this work was published in 1824, in a volume of 163 

 pages, with a geologic profile extending from the Atlantic to 

 Lake Erie, and a " profile of rocks crossing part of Massachu- 

 setts " (from Boston harbor to Plainfield), by the Rev. Edward 

 Hitchcock, who also furnished a description of the rocks and 

 minerals crossed by this profile. 



Much had already been done, therefore, to prepare the way, 

 and the public mind was fully awake to the interests and im- 

 portance of a geological survey, when the Albany Institute, in 

 1834, memorialized the Legislature for some action in that 

 ■direction. In 1835 a similar petition was presented by the New 

 York Lyceum of Natural History. 



These memorials were referred to a committee of the Legisla- 

 ture of 1835, which recommended a resolution by which the secre- 



