HISTORY OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 1 5 



partly to trace the rise of the doctrines adopted after much reflection, 

 and then present the various physical features which lie at the base of 

 sound geological reasoning. 



New Hampshire, in her geographical position and topographical con- 

 tour-features combined, is unlike any other portion of our land; and, 

 therefore, it is appropriate to state at the outset what there is peculiar 

 about her topography, climate, distribution of animal and plant life, 

 scenery, variation of the magnetic needle, and other points in physical 

 geography. These involve a history of the artificial boundaries of the 

 state, notices of maps that have been published, a brief review of scientific 

 explorations among the White Mountains, a sketch of the theories relat- 

 ing to the elevation of mountains, earthquakes, and the conclusions that 

 we have now attained respecting the physical history of the state, or an 

 account of our territorial limits in the several periods of geological time. 

 This chapter might be styled an epitome of the geology of New Hamp- 

 shire. 



The First Three Months of Labor. 



The first annual report presents a sketch of the labors of three months 

 in the field, and is not, properly speaking, an annual report. On the eighth 

 of September, 1868, I had the honor to receive from His Excellency 

 Walter Harriman, governor, the notice of my appointment as state geolo- 

 gist. Though almost too late in the season to commence work, I thought 

 something might be done, and began the examination of the Ammo- 

 noosuc gold field. On the ninth of September I started for Lisbon, 

 stopping on the way at Hanover to arrange for an office and storage 

 apartment for specimens. As a part of our work, invitations were issued 

 through all the newspapers of the state, to persons interested in minerals, 

 to communicate information and forward specimens of interesting and 

 valuable substances for examination. About eighty answers have been 

 received to this appeal, from first to last, communicating many facts of 

 great importance, as well as specimens. The great success of this circu- 

 lar has satisfied us that the community have been watching the progress 

 of our work with much interest ; and that those who have been living 

 among the rocks and hills of New Hampshire will not be satisfied with the 



