166 E. A. SMITH PIO>'EERS IN GULF COASTAL PLAIN GEOLOGY 



the time of his distinguished predecessor. Eoemer. and the stratigraphy 



of the component formations Tras accnraTely deciphered. He extended 

 his researches into Mexico, and we owe to him much of our knowledge of 

 the geology of that country. 



He was later associated with Alexander Agassiz in explorations of Cen- 

 tral America and the West Indies. His publications on these countries, 

 besides describing local geologic conditions, have an important bearing on 

 the correlation of the Cretaceous and Tertiary formations of the Mediter- 

 ranean region of the Western Hemisphere. 



The following estimate of the work of Mr. Hill is given by one who is 

 perhaps most familiar with it : 



"The most important contribution of Mr. Robert T. Hill to Southern States 

 Geology, in my opinion, is his discovery of the true sequence of the Cretaceous 

 formations of the Texan-Arkansan region, the recognition of the Bale-ones fault 

 and the relations of the physiographic features acc-ompanying it and the dis- 

 crimination between the Upper Cretaceous (Gulf series) and the Lower Cre- 

 taceous (Comanche series i. The Comanche series is considered so important 

 by Chamtterlin and Salisbury and Schuchert that they separate it from what 

 they consider the Cretac-eous proper (Upper Cretaceous), and give to each 

 equal value as a system. His studies of river terraces were among the first 

 careful investigations of that kind in this country. His contributions to the 

 geology of Mexico. Panama. Costa Rica, and the West Indies were important. 

 In fact wherever he went he made valuable additions to the fund of geologic 

 information. He is perhaps the first reconnaissance geologist of this day. Hill 

 rK)ssesses a synthetic mind and has been able to bring information gleaned 

 from a variety of fields and diverse lines of research to bear on the interpreta- 

 tion of problems of geologic history, and has illuminated all subjects that he 

 has handled." 



It would lead us too far to speak in detail of the Texas geological sur- 

 veys as conducted by Shumard, Moore, Buckley, Dumble, Phillips, and 

 others. 



ARKAXSAS 



Featherstonhaugh's reconnaissance of 1834 and 1835, embracing part 

 of Arkansas, has already been referred to. 



In 1857 the first Geological Survey of Arkansas was inaugurated, with 

 Dr. David Dale Owen as State Geologist. His first report was published 

 in 1858. Doctor Owen died in 1860. His second repori, edited bv his 

 brother. Eobert Dale Owen, was published in that year. 



Between 1868 and 1875 several state geologists were appointed, but no 

 reports were prepared and very litile accomplished — a circumstance which 

 may be attributed to the general demoralization of the state government 

 during the Eeconstruction period. After an interruption of twelve years 



