14 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



It seems hardly necessary to 'mention, however, that the mineral 

 wealth of the State has its natural limitations which are of funda- 

 mental import to industry. The valuable deposits are not only re- 

 stricted as to variety, but their area! distribution is conditioned by 

 the nature of the local rock formations or other features that have 

 been more or less well defined from scientific inquiry and explora- 

 tions. A knowledge of the geological conditions surrounding the 

 occurrence of the useful minerals is very necessary to the proper 

 conduct of field operations. In these days of the expert practi- 

 tioner, mining bureaus and geological surveys, guidance can easily 

 be had. Few states have been so carefully studied in regard to 

 geology and mineral occurrence as New York, and the accumulated 

 information is largely on record and available to the public. 



Yet the neglect of these obvious considerations is by no means 

 uncommon, whereby results much wasted effort with very consid- 

 erable financial loss. Organizations of capital are effected, costly 

 construction work and development are entered upon frequently 

 without any adequate basis for operations or knowledge of the con- 

 ditions pertaining to the particular field so essential to success. 



A recurring illustration of this tendency is afforded by the at- 

 tempts which are made from time to time to develop coal beds in 

 the State. The futility of such purpose, however well intentioned, 

 was exposed by the work of the First Geological Survey in the early 

 part of the last century and has been frequently emphasized since; 

 yet there is still a manifest willingness to engage in unprofitable 

 ventures of this kind. The fact that the New York series of rock 

 formations does not contain representatives of the productive coal 

 measures rests upon the most secure basis. But if further evidence 

 be required it may be said that practically the whole of the New 

 York section of stratified formations has been explored in outcrop, 

 mine shafts or drill holes, so that all possibility of the existence of 

 valuable deposits is absolutely removed. 



Among the regions which are favored for such operations and 

 which have recently received attention may be mentioned the Hud- 

 son River shale region, the Catskills and the southern part of the 

 State along the Pennsylvania boundary. The belt of shales extend- 

 ing along the Hudson river from the Highlands northward to Wash- 

 ington county contains more or less carbonaceous matter, but never 

 in sufficient amount to constitute a true coal. Where the shale 

 has been crushed and compressed the carbon may be noticeable as a 

 thin film on the surface of the shale fragments, giving the appear- 

 ance somewhat of shiny anthracite, though a purely superficial one. 



