Miscellaneous Intelligence. 79 
products of the National Domain, and he may extend his exam- 
ination into the States, not to interfere, however, with any Geo- 
logical Survey now being made by the States.”* 
The vote for the amendment stood—yeas, 92, nays 53, 141 not 
voting. It thus appears that the important measure, sprung upon 
the House in its closing hours, unknown to, and unconsidered by, 
the country, had only ninety-two votes in its favor. 
n order that the exact views of those who advocated the bill 
may be understood, we make a few citations from the remarks in 
the discussion. Mr. Atkins, its most urgent advocate, said: 
“Tennessee has a large deposit of coal and iron, and wou 
Virginia, said: “The vast mineral wealth locked up in our mount- 
ains should be developed.” Mr. Haskell said “‘Congress does not 
possess the power to oust the State surveys from their work under 
the State laws, and this is simply to give free and full power and 
 aeardl to give us what we need—a Geological Survey of the 
nited States.” On the other hand, Mr. Reagan, of Texas, said 
“T shall vote against this bill, either with the amendment or 
without the amendment, because I do not believe the Constitution 
enables me to pass such a law. , day by day, and step by 
Step, in advance of them [our predecessors], proceed without the 
authority of the Constitution in creating new so 
of the State; and Professor Lesley has given more tim 
Jac and the following quotations are from the Congressional Record for 
